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THE
SCOOP: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
Jennifer
Capriati: the best in the business
By
Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net
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Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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Considered
the most amazing of child tennis prodigies at the tender age of
14, Jennifer Capriati finally reached the top of the charts at
the ripe old age of 25 on Monday, October 15th, 2001. Capriati’s
Cinderella story added this latest distinction – world No.
1 – to
her recent career accomplishments by dethroning Martina Hingis,
who sustained an ankle injury last week that requires surgery
and six to eight weeks of recuperation.
As
Capriati rejoiced at reaching the world No. 1 ranking, something
many thought would come in her early teen years, she also kept
in mind the hard times. She was quick to allude to the turbulent
teen years – a misdemeanor shoplifting charge, a minor marijuana
arrest and a general unhappiness that caused her to walk away
from tennis for a number of years.
“For some reason, whatever reason, it wasn’t supposed
to happen back then,” said Capriati, the ninth woman to attain
the top spot since rankings starting on the women’s tour
in November 1975. “It’s been a unique journey for me
– a unique story for me and everybody. It doesn’t matter
what age you do it at. I’m thrilled to get to this point
and now I really can enjoy it.
“It’s a little bit more profound knowing what I’ve
gone through to get there. I feel like I’ve almost been to
hell and back.”
Capriati’s rise to the position she always seemed destined
to attain truly started in January when she won her first Grand
Slam trophy at the Australian Open with a stunning run past Monica
Seles, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis in the final rounds.
She capped that success off by winning the second Grand Slam of
the year at Roland Garros in an exciting and hard fought final
against Belgian Kim Clijsters.
Now she is trying to drink in the sensation of being the best
in the business.
“I can’t describe how it feels – it’s a satisfaction
that comes from inside,” Capriati said, clearly more comfortable
in her starring role than she was back in 1990 when she turned
professional and created such a sensation. “It’s been
a long road with a lot of challenges. I’ve worked very hard.
I’ve never concentrated on being No. 1, I just wanted to
play the best tennis I could.”
FAMILY SUPPORT
Capriati, who says she shares this newest success with her dad/coach
Stefano, mother Denise and brother Steven, understands that players
are gunning to topple her from the throne. But she believes they’ve
been focusing a great deal of attention on beating her in matches
since she reigned supreme at the Australian Open.
“I
know everyone wants to play well against me,” Capriati said.
“But I guess I offer a little bit more intimidation now.”
While
the length of Capriati’s reign at No. 1 cannot be determined,
she can feel confident believing that Venus Williams, who won
the other two Grand Slam trophies this season, won’t be making
many if any appearances through the remainder of the season. Thus
far, Venus and her sister Serena have preferred to stay close
to home since the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil on Sept. 11.
While Venus was quoted as saying she still plans on showing up
at the year-end final in Munich next month, it seems likely that
the siblings are not comfortable traveling at this time and it
would be hard to blame them for their concerns.
However, there is the opening for former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport
to try and push Capriati from the throne. Davenport is well aware
that Capriati’s game has gone down a peg or two since Wimbledon
despite scoring the top ranking.
But for now, whether she remains No. 1 for a week, month or the
foreseeable future, Capriati is just basking in the knowledge
that she’s rebounded to become a success story in the most
dramatic fashion.
“Since my comeback to playing tennis, I’ve made steps
forward,” Capriati said by phone from the Swisscom Challenge
in Zurich. “I kept going, kept fighting because I knew eventually
I would be rewarded.”
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