TENNIS: AFTER FERRERO, DOKIC. ROME PRESENTS NEW PLAYERS

A breath of fresh, young air that can only boost a tournament desperately trying to renew itself. The difficulties for the Italian Internationals are growing year after year. Changes of dates, facilities not up to standard for world-class events, top players who drop out at the last moment. In the midst of so many small daily problems, the 2001 event presents two athletes who, at least on hard surfaces, look all set to do big things. Carlos Ferrero and Jelena Dokic don’t reach 40 together, but thanks to their aggressive and acute playing style could well represent the future of the movement. Both have room for improvement, but the comforting thing that plays in their favour is their strong, cool character. A lot of positive things have been said about them recently following a number of successful achievements. The Spaniard, semi-finalist at Paris 2000, coaxed Spain to its first Davis Cup victory ever. Jelena on the other hand, two Wimbledons ago, surprised everyone by beating queen-of-the-courts Hingis 6-2 6-0. Since then, the Australian player, a native of Belgrade, has indirectly made the headlines following the escapades of her father, Damir, expelled from the women’s circuit after drinking too much and coming to blows with a New York security agent. Once again this year, in Melbourne, the wild parent snatched a reel of film from a cameraman who had caught him in the company of his daughter and wife walking together during the Australian tournament. This resulted in Dokic’s father being banned or restricted in some way from entering the Slam tournaments. The last move, always in Australia, was the polemic decision to abandon her adoptive country due to presumed competitive discriminations and re-embrace the Yugoslav flag. Rome, the first tournament won, against French player, Mauresmo, who had reached the finals for the first time, has the very definite merit of having reconciled the world of played tennis with the elegant gestures of the Serbian player. From now on, she will be considered the queen of the Forum, one of the youngest and prettiest, with a bright future as an alternative to Hingis, the Williams sisters, and to the other stars of the circuit. Carlos Ferrero on the other hand enjoys a much more calm family situation. Only on rare occasions is he seen in the company of his parents. He has travelled the world ever since he was a youngster and has made a name for himself in the Spanish tennis playing world which (good for it) has been turning out champions galore. Rome is undeniably his big achievement, but the hard court season, especially in view of the Roland Garros, could soon place his victory at the Foro Italico among one of the many in the Spanish player’s bag. The fact that he has beaten the king of Paris, Guga Kuerten twice is indicative that this big Barcelona football fan is ready to achieve even more prestigious goals. He has been nicknamed “Mosquito” because of his light but stinging style, which causes his opponents a lot of bother. We feel sure, it will not be long however before he changes this name, just as soon as a “noble” title comes along. Kuerten, who was beaten in Rome, has already suggested “Hornet”. It sounds good, considering the Spaniard’s poisonous tennis is starting to reap numerous victims and, on the hard court at least, very few players have the antidote.