THE tennisreporters.net NEWSLETTER: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, No. 23

Will Sampras play on the grass?
Can No. 2 Clijsters try harder? Show-and-tell with Venus
World Team Tennis keeps ticking; Morariu honored at Family Circle Cup

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane/ Camerawork USA, Inc.

It's hard to know what to make of the fact that Pete Sampras has asked the Queen's Club tournament Æ the official tune-up event for Wimbledon Æ to hold a wildcard for him. While some might take it as a sign that Sampras will indeed return to the tennis court in one last attempt to win Wimbledon, others caution that this is just normal procedure.

Sampras' brother Gus told tennisreporters.net that Pete asking Queen's to hold a wildcard open for him is "standard business" and that Sampras hasn't made up his mind whether he'll make a return or not.

US Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe says he spoke with Pete when he was out at the Pacific Life Open and came away with the feeling that Pete will, once again, grace the grass courts of England.

"I spoke to him when I was out in Indian Wells," McEnroe said on Wednesday. "My feeling was that the only thing that could possibly happen is that he'll play Queen's and Wimbledon. I mean, that's my feeling. But he doesn't know – nobody knows. But he seems perfectly happy doing what he's doing right now."

Both McEnroe as well as Sampras' brother and Sampras' friend, Kevin O'Connor of the Saddlebrook Resort, believe that the 14-time Grand Slam champion will forego the clay court season and a last crack at a Roland Garros title.

As for what shape Sampras would be in after a nine-month layover, McEnroe said that after seeing Pete come off an over two-year title drought to win the 2002 US Open, he's a believer in his friends capabilities at the Big W.

"After what I saw at Flushing Meadow last year, nothing will surprise me," McEnroe. "He can show up at Queen's and win two matches and then lose, play one exhibition, and he wins two rounds at Wimbledon and what do you think everyone's going to be thinking in the locker room? They're going to be shaking in their boots. So, it's possible (he could win Wimbledon). Is it likely, it's hard to say. But I'm not going to discount him, no matter what. If anybody can do it, he can do it."

McEnroe is of the impression that if Sampras laces up his sneakers, he'll be coming for serious business and not just a fond farewell to the Centre Court where he won seven titles during his career.

"There's no way he's going to show up if he's not ready," McEnroe said. "He's been practicing and he's been working out regularly."

Can No. 2 Clijsters try harder?
Next Monday marks the day that Belgian Kim Clijsters moves just one spot away from the top ranking in the world on the WTA Tour.

This will be Clijsters' highest-ever ranking but she didn't quite get their on her own steam. Clijsters is becoming the beneficiary of Venus Williams, the current No. 2, deciding not to defend her Amelia Island title next week. That decision means that Venus drops back to No 3, having comfortable occupied the No. 2 spot since June 10, 2002. In case you don't remember, before June 10 Venus was ranked No. 1 in the world, back when she won matches against little sis, Serena.

Here is how it all happens: It's the point system.

Venus will drop 284 points from her ranking total by steering clear of Amelia Island and that loss bumps Clijsters ahead of her on the computer.

Of course, this slight change of scenery at the top will do nothing to erode Serena's claim to the top prize. And while Venus is taking it easy, putting her mind on training and other pursuits, Serena is up in South Carolina this week at the Family Circle Cup event in search of a fourth consecutive title of the year.

The ways of the computer rankings on both tours have consistently been met with criticism, although it would seem that finding the fix has not proven easy. The problem lies in that a player's who compiles strong performances (regularly in or around the semis), coupled with playing a lot of weeks, can escalate their rise to the top as has Clijsters. While it's true that Clijsters is about as close to the top as you can get, it is hard to get around a No. 2 who has only one Grand Slam final to her credit Æ 2001 French Open Æ and no winner's trophies from the four majors.

Show-and-tell with Venus

Fred Mullane/ Camerawork USA, Inc.

Among some of the projects garnering Venus' attention these days was when she became the perfect show-and-tell subject for 13-year-old Danielle Morone of Orlando, Fla. Venus was taking part in the "Take A Reebok Athlete To School Day" project and made a trip to Hunter's Creek Middle School in Orlando this week to spend one hour at school with the eighth grader. Venus was also scheduled to talk to 400 students at the middle school about the importance of education.

World Team Tennis keeps ticking
It seems rather interesting that World Team Tennis gets very little publicity, even during its short summer season, which this year will run from July 7-27 with the finals scheduled at Flushing Meadows on August 23. Nevertheless, the WTT tends to attract some impressive names Æ active players as well as retirees from the WTA and ATP tours.

The WTT draft took place last Wednesday and names like Anna Kournikova, Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe and Boris Becker have signed on for action.

Kournikova will play for the Kansas City Explorers, Becker will play for the New York Buzz, Martina Navratilova will grace the Philadelphia Freedoms (remember the Elton John song?), Lindsay Davenport will join the Newport Beach Breakers, Andy Roddick sill return to the St. Louis Aces and James Blake stays at home in Connecticut for the Hartford FoxForce.

Patrick McEnroe, a co-owner of the New York Sportimes, recruited brother John to make the team a family affair.

The WTT tennis teams Æ with two male and two female players Æ was a concept that was started in the 1970s by Billie Jean King and her ex-husband Larry.

Morariu honored at Family Circle Cup
This year's Family Circle magazine's "Player Who Makes A Difference" award is going to Corina Morariu. The South Floridian, who is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury, is being honored for both her charitable endeavors and her successful personal battle against promyeloctic leukemia. As Family Circle editor-in-chief made note about Morariu's battle with cancer that "she has given hope and inspiration to so many people fighting cancer."

Morariu will use the $20,000 grant money she receives from becoming the latest recipient of the "Player Who Makes a Difference" to help fund efforts of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation. In April 2002, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society named Morariu their Sports Ambassador.