THE SCOOP, ROLAND GARROS DAY 8

Capriati is happy … like a child

By Sandra Harwitt and Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

PARIS, June 11 – One of Jennifer Capriati's close friends says the the Aussie Open champ is in a great frame of mind and has few doubts about her ability to beat Serena on Tuesday. Both of Jennifer's divorced parents are here – her coach, Stefano, and her mom, Denise. A source says they are very cordial, which is one of the reasons why Jenny is so happy. Denise lives in West Palm Beach while Stefano lives with Jennifer at the Saddlebrook Academy in Tampa. Jennifer frequently flies back and forth.

LINA K. SHOOTING PAST ANNA, AIMING FOR THE TOP
In case you missed it, Lina Krasnoroutskaya says she has better weapons than Anna Kournikova and a better shot at reaching No. 1. The Russian says she is dying to become No. 1 and will pull out all stops to get there. Martina Hingis said it was just a matter of time before Lina K. showed up and began knocking people off at a Slam.

At this point, the muscular all-courter does not have a top-five game but she is extremely solid off both wings and competes well under pressure. It's unlikely she'll be able to upend the Belgian Hurricane, Justine Henin, but she will push her. Lina K. is coached by Larisa Neiland, who was always a smart, if not unreliable player.

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

USTA OFFICIALS EYE STANDOUT JUNIOR
If you were looking for all the USTA big shots on Monday afternoon at Roland Garros, you had to go all the way to the last court in the complex. Sitting courtside at Court 17 watching American junior Ashley Harkelroad beat Su-Wei Hsieh of Taipei 1-6, 6-0, 6-2 were USTA President Merv Heller, USTA Vice President Alan Schwartz, and USTA coach Nick Saviano. Others in attendance were Nick Bollettieri, Kevin O'Connor of Saddlebrook where Harkelroad trains, and Dennis Van Der Meer. Bollettieri seemed very interested in the sneak peak at Harkelroad, who trains at the rival academy on the west coast of Florida. It was very easy to see that Bollettieri was impressed with Harkelroad, although he seemed confident that Anna Kournikova, a player that Harkelroad is often compared to, is the better talent. Of course, Kournikova in her youth trained with Bollettieri – so he was showing his loyalty.