CAPRIATI MAKES HER MARK IN THE TOP OF THE GAME

The great egg debate slams into center court

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

PARIS, June 3 – It's nice that Jennifer Capriati has worked herself into the elite mix, giving us another talented player to chat about. Just last year, it seemed like the only true rival Jennifer ever had was Monica Seles and that was only because they once played a heated semi at the '91 U.S. Open when they were both still in braces/retainers/pigtails.

Now it looks like the '01 Dorothy Queen of Ox is ready to take the gloves off with Serena Williams and Martina Hingis. Check that, the cheeky Swiss and Little Sister are calling Jennifer out. Capriati will face Serena in the quarters, who she outslugged in Miami in March. Jennifer knows that it will be entirely different Serena on Tuesday. "She going to be real eager to win," Capriati said. "Especially since the last time we played, I beat her. I'm looking forward to it. I know it's going to be a tough one, but I have to play my game, play within myself."

Serena dismissed the Miami loss, saying she was hobbled with a knee injury and was a ghost of herself." I shouldn't have been playing, I was just out there," Williams said. "It's going to be a great match and I'm looking forward to it."

Serena may be a better mover then Jennifer when she's completely healthy, but Capriati is hitting the ball so cleanly right now that it's hard to imagine how Serena – at 80% or so – is going to chase down Jenny's blasts for three sets. The contest will be decided on who serves and returns better and right now Capriati has the edge in both departments. Jennifer can stand toe-to-toe with Serena from her vaunted forehand side, a claim few players can make.

Because this match is being played in France, nether player is under particular pressure to win it. However, Jennifer seems to want it more, even if Serena says she wants to win the title for Venus. Exactly which title doesn't Serena want to win for Venus? The $15,000 Florida Futures?

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After Hingis gets by tricky Italian Francesca Schiavone, she may get another shot at Jennifer, who she says is "pretty hot" at the moment. The No. 1 added that she can't afford lapses like she had in the second set against Sandrine Testud today.

What should be fascinating if this match up does occur is hearing Capriati's reaction when told that Hingis believes the only reason she lost the Aussie Open final to her was because she was pooped out after beating both Williamses and believes she is the better player. You can bet that Jenny will hem and haw a little bit, but with success comes at least a little attitude and if Capriati doesn't deliver that with words, she'll certainly give Martina a few hard stares in the locker room. Even Monica would pay to see that.