THE tennisreporters.net NEWSLETTER: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Stefano Capriati: still proud of Jen
Net cords ridiculous; Serena's domination not eternal;
Richard Williams: Capriati lacks killer instinct

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

FROM THE WTA HOME DEPOT CHAMPIONSHIPS -- After watching his daughter lose a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 heartbreaker to Serena Williams in the semifinals of the $3 million WTA Home Depot Championships, Stefano Capriati, the father and coach of Jennifer, said that what separates his daughter for the world's No. 1 is that Serena's serve is more effective, but he doesn't believe that she is way above the pack.

"The top 10 is so close now," Stefano told tennisreporters.net. It's not like when Chris Evert and Martina were dominating. All the players in the top 10 are good and can beat each other now. It's just that Serena has been a little mentally stronger this year. There isn't much that separates the players. We still don't know whether she can be so dominant next year. She's been very mentally tough this year, but it's not so easy to be that way every year."

Serena's father, Richard Williams, wasn't as kind as Stefano, saying that his daughter was there for the taking on Sunday. Asked whether Jennifer had enough killer instinct, Richard said, "If you don't have that instinct to go forward and take a chance you'll never be a great champion. If Jennifer would have gone forward today -- Serena wasn't serving or returning well - - this match would have been over with."

Jennifer has said that it isn't her technique that prevents her from beating Serena. Richard disagrees.

"I don't think Jennifer should talk about techniques because they're not that good to start with," he said. "She should say when it comes to Serena and Venus. She just tries to keep the ball in play."

Stefano was irked by the extremely loose net cord at the Staples Center. Apparently, the cord cannot be fixed because officials don't want to drive any further in to the floor and ruin the hardwood. (Imagine Kobe and Shaq's reaction).

Jennifer lost a couple of critical points in the third set due to net cord balls, which Stefano said could have distracted her. "What is she supposed to think, every fucking time she hits a shot or Serena hits a shot and it bounces off that cord?" Stefano said. "She thinks, What am I'm supposed to fucking do today? That can be fucking distracting. Maybe she's saying, "This is not my fucking day."

Jennifer has been on tour since the beginning of the last decade and has never been engaged in a rivalry where another player has trumped her time and time again in tight matches. But Serena has her number just like another emotive grunter once did.

"The only time I use to have those kind of matches was with Monica back in the day," said Jennifer, who has lost to Serena six times in a row. "It sounds like so long ago."

Stefano said that Serena keeps Jennifer under "lots of pressure. Even if she comes into net, Serena has a great passing shot, so it's tough to come in against her. There are very close and I'm not disappointed with Jennifer's play. She had a good year. I'm very proud of her."

FYI: Stefano says that the primary reason behind's Jennifer's poor performance in the European fall swing (she was 1-3) was because she had a throat infection and was hospitalized with a 104-degree fever. "She didn't want to say anything about it because she doesn't make excuses," Stefano said.