The Week in Tennis at a Glance
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- Martina Hingis of Switzerland won the Ericsson Open women's singles by defeating American Lindsay Davenport 6-3, 6-2 in Key Biscayne, Florida.
- Pete Sampras of the United States stopped Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten 6-1, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8) to win the men's singles at the Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.
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SPEAKING
"She really deserves the No 1 spot right now." - Martina Hingis, on Lindsay Davenport.
"It would mean more to me to win this tournament than to be No 1." - Lindsay Davenport, who lost the Ericsson Open final but became No 1.
"Why wait until you're 27 to retire? No one gives a damn about you when you get that old. People are waiting for the next 14-year-old girl to bring excitement." - Richard Williams, saying his 19-year-old daughter Venus might retire from tennis.
"There are times I'd love to be honest, but most of the time I have to give the right answer rather than the truthful one." - Tim Henman, talking to reporters.
"I have been very fortunate in my life, and when I can make a positive difference in the lives of others, especially children, it is very rewarding for me." - Spain's Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, after winning The Player Who Makes A Difference Award.
"I gave away more matches than Tim Henman this year. Why wasn't I named chairman of Charities?" - American Jeff Tarango, on why he would have been the perfect chairman of the ATP Tour Charities.
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STEPPING UP
It figures. Lindsay Davenport finally loses to Martina Hingis but takes over the No. 1 ranking from her Swiss foe. Hingis has been No 1 for the past 32 weeks. Davenport took over the top spot by reachison final, Davenport had beaten Hingis five straight times.
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STEPPING UP
Tim Henman succeeds Goran Ivanisevic as ATP Tour Charities chairman. As part of his new role, Henman will donate $160 for every ace he serves this year, which will be matched by ATP Tour Charities. All funds raised will go to Henman's designated charity, Sargent Cancer Care for Children, a United Kingdom organization that offers counseling and financial support to young people afflicted with cancer and their families.
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SANEX TOUR VEEP
Joshua Ripple is the new Sanex WTA Tour vice president of Tournament Relations. Ripple had been at StreetZebra.com, a sports and entertainment Internet web portal, where he served as senior director of marketing and events. Ripple was with ProServ Inc. for more than 13 years, where he was tournament director for ProServ's WTA Tour and ATP Tour events.
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SANCHEZ-VICARIO HONOURED
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario is the winner of the ninth annual Family Circle/ Hormel Foods "Player Who Makes A Difference" award for her work creating awareness and financial support for many organisations, including the Special Olympics and the children's hospital in Barcelona, Spain.
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STALKER
Dubravko Rajcevic, who claims he is romantically involved with Martina Hingis, was arrested and charged with stalking the tennis star at the Ericsson Open in Miami. Rajcevic, 45, has been following Hingis and sending her letters, her coach and mother, Melanie Molitor, told police. He was charged with stalking and trespass after receiving a warning, both misdemeanors. Rajcevic told Miami's WPLG-TV that he and Hingis have a relationship.
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SAD NEWS
Veteran Dutch tennis player Hubert Weijerman suffered a heart attack and died soon after losing a match at the ITF World Veterans Champions in South Africa. Weijerman, competing in the over-65 age group, died on his way to hospital after being temporarily revived by shock treatment at the courtside, according to the Citizen newspaper.
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SHAMIL ON BOARD
Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev will take over as temporary coach of Russia's Fed Cup team, replacing Konstantin Bogorodetsky, who resigned after leading Russia to the Fed Cup final last year. Tarpishchev, who was elected president of the Russian Tennis Federation last year, also coaches the country's Davis Cup team.
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SELES STOMPED
Playing on a sore ankle, Monica Seles endured the worst beating of her career when she lost to Martina Hingis 6-0, 6-0 in the semi-finals of the Ericsson Open. Seles won only 22 points in the 39-minute match.
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SITES TO SURF
www.daviscup.org www.blchamps.com/index-frames.html www.atlanta-tennis.com/ http://estorilopen.infordesporto.pt/
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Tournaments This Week
Davis Cup
World Group Quarter-finals Czech Republic vs. United States at Inglewood, California Russia at Malaga, Spain Slovak Republic at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Germany at Adelaide, Australia
Group 1 Second Round Euro-African Zone: Sweden at Finland, Hungary at Romania, South Africa at Belarus, Ukraine at Monaco American Zone: Argentina at Chile, Peru at Ecuador Asia-Oceania Zone: New Zealand at Uzbekistan, South Korea at India
Group 2 Second Round American Zone: Paraguay at Venezuela, Mexico at Guatemala Asia-Oceania Zone: Pakistan at Taiwan, Malaysia at Indonesia
Tournaments Week of April 10
ATP TOUR
$600,000 Estoril Open, clay, Estoril, Portugal $350,000 Galleryfurniture.com Tennis Challenge, clay, Atlanta $325,000 Grand Prix Hassan II, clay, Casablanca, Morocco
SANEX WTA TOUR
$535,000 Bausch & Lomb Championships, clay, Amelia Island, Florida $140,000 Estoril Open, clay, Estoril, Portugal
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