Mr. Ed is...The Line Judge (November 10, 2001)
by Ed Zafian



This week, "The Line Judge" looks at two of the more quotable tennis players out there today - Serena Williams and Goran Ivanisevic. Serena ended the year on a high note while Goran hopes to follow up his first Grand Slam title with another big tournament title this coming week.

Serena Showing Up in 2002?

After capturing the year-end Sanex Championships, the question is will we be seeing a new Serena Williams? Or maybe more accurately seeing more of Serena? Serena, in the family's usual brash style, said: "I'm tired of people being ahead of me (in the rankings) that don't deserve it. I'm on a mission to be #1." With a 37-8 record and without a loss to a player outside the Top 10 this year, it seems that the 1999 US Open champion has a point. However, Serena should have the WTA print out some of her head- to-head statistics for the five players that are now ranked ahead of her. Serena holds an overall edge over Davenport (7-2) and Clijsters (4-0), but has a losing record (including at least one loss to each this year) to the other three: Capriati (2-4), Venus Williams (1-5), and Hingis (5-6).

Additionally, there is the issue of the number of tournaments the younger Williams actually showed up for this year. Despite winning 3 titles, her 10 tournament appearances fell far short of the minimum of 17 tournaments that are used to make up a player's computer ranking. Serena boldly told the media in Munich last week "You guys are going to get tired of looking at me because I'm going to be everywhere." Looking over Serena's "2001 Year in Review" provided by the WTA for the Sanex Championships, I am sure many of the media in attendance were rolling their eyes over the statement. >From my count, Serena pulled out of 8 tournaments in 2001 for reasons related to injury to illness to personal reasons. This also does not include one of Serena's more infamous moments of the year, the bizarre stomach incident during her Wimbledon quarterfinal match versus Capriati.

While it would be wonderful to have Serena play at her true potential (and let's throw in Venus, since many of the above apply to her as well), past history simply does not seem to lend much credence to her statements at the Sanex Championships. Some major improvements in overall health and commitment to the game are needed. I have lingering doubts. But erasing doubts seems to be one of the Williams family's specialties.


Goran's Unexpected Return To Australia

The term "has-been" would have been an accurate description of Goran Ivanisevic at the beginning of this year. The perennial Wimbledon favorite and former Top 10 player was languishing in the rankings and lost in the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open. That all changed when the All England Club granted the quotable Croat a wildcard into this year's Championships which he rode all the way to perhaps the unlikeliest Grand Slam title ever. With the Wimbledon trophy and a top 20 finish in the Champions Race, under what I call the "Andre Agassi rule," Ivanisevic qualified for the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup taking place in Sydney this coming week. Ivanisevic echoed the thoughts of many when he said "In my wildest dreams I didn't believe I was going to be here."

Leave it to Ivanisevic to make things even more interesting. In addition to a lingering shoulder injury that has him on painkillers, Ivanisevic stubbed his toe in a Sydney hotel shower forcing him to miss a day of practice. But apparently the beleaguered Wimbledon champ was back on the practice court later in the week. The Masters Cup round-robin groupings tossed Ivanisevic an arguably more favorable draw. Ivanisevic finds himself competing initially against struggling clay-courters Kuerten and Ferrero along with the ever hard to figure out Kafelnikov. Hometown favorites, Hewitt and Rafter, and 2001 Australian Open champ, Agassi, are all in the opposing group. Ivanisevic is hoping for some support of his own "A lot of Croats live here. I always have a great time in Sydney and I always play great in Sydney." With injuries and questionable form plaguing many of the entrants, I would not necessarily count out Ivanisevic from pulling off another miracle.


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