NOTES ON A DRAW SHEET

Forget disses Andy and James
Pete to retire at Wimby?; Clothing makes the scene; War over Venus' and Serena's endorsements

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Now for some sober European thoughts on U.S. Davis Cup loss to France: After the tie French captain Guy Forget said of young Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake, "Whether you're talking about Blake or Roddick, they are not clay court players," Forget said. "Roddick only stayed in the match because of his service. Sebastien and Arnaud are less extravagant and more 'mean' in how they play points. They [the Americans] always want to blow you away and follow a game plan which is almost always the same."
Ouch.

Now for some news from two Americans who didn't play the tie and don't always win matches by just trying to "blow" opponents away. Just ahead of their upcoming exhibition at the World TeamTennis (WTT) Smash Hits, an annual tennis charity event slated for Oct. 3 at The Pavilion at Villanova University, Sampras and Agassi spoke for the first time in print since the Open.

Pete to retire at Wimby?
"At this point I'm still enjoying what happened at the US Open. … And I'm still not sure what the future holds. A part of me thinks that winning the U.S. Open title is a great way to end things, but the other part of me loves to have fun again and play at that high level. I'm leaving the door open right now. I'm still really thinking about it. I'll probably make a decision within the next 3-4 weeks as to the training regimen and my schedule for next year.

"This last major was the toughest title and something I've never had to do before … make a comeback. I feel like I've done it all from a tennis standpoint, but this last one was more of a character victory. More of a 'how bad do I really want it' mental test, because everyone had been writing me off for so long. To come through that means more to me than say five years ago when I was winning a couple majors a year and may have took it for granted. Tennis is something I love to do and once it's over, it's over. Besides, I would love to play Wimbledon one more time and say my good-byes there. I'm weighing my options at this point."

It would be shocking if Sampras didn't go back to New York in '03 and defend his title there. After his run to his fifth title three weeks ago, his legend in the U.S. is certainly as large as it is in England.

AGASSI ON HIS US OPEN LOSS
"It was very special playing Pete in the finals of the US Open. I couldn't think of a place I'd rather be than playing him in New York. It was of course disappointing for me in some respects, but it was a great two weeks and I always enjoy playing Pete, whether it's in all seriousness or all fun."

Sounds like Double A has regrouped mentally.

Speaking of enjoying life oncourt, Tokyo champ Serena Williams – who has only lost one match since May – is having a ball. She's so motivated that she coined a term for herself. "The Australian Open is definitely my goal. Both Venus and me will be very motivated to win, especially me because I want to get the 'Serena Slam' there," said Serena who has a chance to win four majors in a row. Neither she nor Venus have ever won the title Down Under.

Clothing makes the scene
The always excellent Daniel Kaplan of Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal recently reported three interesting developments:

1) That "sneaker and apparel manufacturers including Nike and Reebok have flatly told the International Tennis Federation that after showing some early willingness to compromise, they now completely object to swaddling players in uniforms for Davis Cup and Fed Cup. Meanwhile, player agents are looking to torpedo a renewed effort by the men's ATP to hawk T-shirts and caps emblazoned with players' images."

Dianne Hayes, director of Reebok tennis, told Kaplan: "We feel we are paying for the right for what athletes wear on court."

Tom Ross, Octagon head of men's tennis and Lleyton Hewitt's agent, said of the ATP's plans: "The fact is that the U.S. Open was really the first time that the ATP has provided us with any specifics. … Simply put, they may be operating under some misconceptions. The manufacturers simply can't convey the rights the ATP seeks without the consent of the respective players."

2) That IMG is trying to borrow $45 million to refinance the debt on the 189-acre Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where the Pacific Life Open is played. Kaplan reports that "Pension giant TIAA lent IMG and its partner in the tennis complex, PM Sports, $50 million in 1998, but TIAA forced IMG to buy back the debt on Sept. 17, 2001, in a heretofore unpublicized transaction. … IMG borrowed money from its bank to pay TIAA. … The current bank debt, which has been whittled down 10 percent to $45 million, is now guaranteed by IMG. … Now the guarantor of the loan, IMG is looking for another large investor to assume the debt. With Pacific Life in as the new title sponsor of the tournament and ISL further in the rearview mirror, IMG and PM Sports [tournaments owner Charlie Pasarell and Ray Moore] expect to turn the corner on the project and generate the contractually obligated income that debt investors cherish as collateral. That income could be used to secure the loan, rather than IMG's guarantee of payment.

Moore told Kaplan: "We had a triple whammy in 2001-02. You had, No. 1, the recession; No. 2, ISL; and No. 3, Nine-eleven. … [But] we have been one of the lucky ones. We have been able to find sponsorships, we are back where we were five years ago from a business viewpoint, and we are back in the market selling sponsorships."

Pasarell told Kaplan that the Pacific Life Open will at least break even next year and will be profitable in 2004.

War over Venus' and Serena's endorsements

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

3) That Venus and Serena Williams are "the subject of an intense battle by three racket companies to secure their endorsement services." Wilson had the sisters under contract until their contracts expired just before the US Open, but the Williamses played the tournament with Wilson rackets even though they weren't compensated. Apparently, Head has offered more than $1 million a year for each sister and Wilson is also serious about keeping them on. Dunlop Slazenger is also making a push.

ATP CEO Mark Miles told Reuters earlier this week that an announcement to explain some "scaling back in the compensation for doubles" was forthcoming. "It's a reallocation of the prize money really. It will mean a few changes. But it will not be something done to put doubles out of business," Miles said that this year, money on the tour had been distributed 75 percent to singles and 25 percent to doubles. He suggested that in 2003, it could change to 80-20. "This will ease things a bit for everyone and it will not threaten doubles," he said.