Notes on a Draw Sheet

Will Mauresmo and Blake be factors in N.Y.?

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Fred Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Whether Amelie Mauresmo's strategy of bailing on most of the summer hard court season will pay off when the U.S. Open begins next week is still debatable, but there's little question that her fresh legs and renewed vigor paid off in Montreal. That's where she punched out a wild Jennifer Capriati 6-4, 6-1 in the final of the Rogers AT&T Cup.

The match did have its similarities to their Wimbledon quarterfinal, which the Frenchwoman won in a rout. Like in London, Mauresmo was able to move Capriati around from the baseline with big topspin forehands, and both topspin and underspin from her backhand side. On many occasions, she attacked the net once she got the American out of position and, on most occasions, she was successful.

"I just wanted to play a few matches and get my game in order and see how I'm doing against the best players," said Mauresmo, who beat Daniela Hantuchova in the semis. "I guess it went pretty well. The main thing is to be ready for the U.S. Open."

It's easy to be taken in by Mauresmo's potential and athleticism, especially now that she's discovered a Gaby Sabatini-like net game. She certainly has enough muscle to bang with anyone when she's on. But there is a reason why Serena Williams blew her out in the Wimbledon semis: Mauresmo's groundies often fall in mid-court, which isn't going to cut it against the Williamses, who bury short balls with gusto.

Amelie has won eight titles now, but hasn't reached a Slam final since the '99 Australian Open. But it's possible she's peaking and if Serena's knee makes her less than 100 percent for the Open, than it's not far fetched to say that Mauresmo (with Kim Clijsters) will be one of Venus' main contenders.

WHAT HAPPENED TO JENNIFER?
For her part, Capriati played strategically vacant match, frustrated by the wind and never able to dictate play from well behind the baseline. As was the case in her previous hardcourt losses to Jelena Dokic in San Diego and Ai Sugiyama in L.A., Capriati served erratically, rarely came to net and wasn't aggressive enough with her returns of serve. Capriati became upset with a few calls late in the first set and from then on, looked like the player who has had little impact on tour since early June. If Jennifer doesn't find her focus and some direction in her game this week, she'll have no chance to realize her dream to win her first Open.

"I got upset and maybe it was a downward spiral from there," Capriati said. "Everything felt like it wasn't going my way, no matter what I tried to do. I didn't find a rhythm and with the wind, it was a mess out there."

Betting on Blake?

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

If you were a betting person, would you have laid down a post-Wimbledon wager that American James Blake would win a summer hard court title and that Andy Roddick wouldn't? If you had, you'd be sitting flush after Blake came from way behind and took out the talented Thai Paradorn Srichaphan 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 to win the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, D.C.

The title was the first for 22-year-old American, who had lost a number of tight contests this year just when he appeared to be on the verge of a major breakthrough.

"I never knew if my first title would ever come," said Blake, who shocked five-time Washington champion Andre Agassi in the semis.

Now that he has his first crown and will be seeded at the Open, Blake should have sufficient confidence to make a run at the second week. His serve, backhand and volley have improved a ton and his forehand and court coverage are all already excellent.

It's Blake's killer instinct that still may be lacking (he may be too nice a guy to ever be a dominant player) but as he showed against Srichaphan and Agassi, he's not lacking in guts.

If there's any downside to Blake's victory, it's that now he'll be expected to do damage in New York. It's the first time that he'll be under pressure at a major and how he responds will go a long way in foretelling his future.

SRICHAPHAN MAKES BIG IMPRESSION
Speaking of late bloomers, as Agassi found at Wimbledon, Srichaphan can really play. He's got gorgeous, lethal groundies and owns a cheerful, breath-of-fresh personality. He's another player to watch in Flushing.

Although tennisreporters.net was unable to attend Montreal and didn't watch any of Martina Hingis' matches, her scores indicated that she's not in horrible shape and that includes her straight-set loss to perennially exhausted Jelena Dokic. Hingis will at least be a partial factor in N.Y.

It's fantastic that someone puts up the cash to hold a pro tournament in the Bronx (the GHI Bronx Classic), but it's a Challenger and no winner of this American League East playoff between Triple A players has ever been able to cross the Whitestone Bridge and reign at Ashe stadium.

Still, the title runs of young Americans Mardy Fish and Ashley Harkleroad in the Bronx must have given them some measure of confidence. Fish hadn't made much noise in months and really needed a win. Harkleroad is another story all together as the 17-year-old has begun to clean up on the Challenger circuit and is already exhibiting top-50 stuff. With the right draw, a few victories at the Open aren't out of the question for the driven blonde.