Thailand’s Paradorn Scrichaphan will have to do today what 24 opponents have failed to do to Andre Agassi at the Australian Open ... beat him. The 13th Thai seed, the pride of Asian tennis, faces the daunting task of stopping the runaway four-time Open winner in their fourth round encounter. Agassi has dominated the Australian Open since losing to compatriot Vince Spadea in the fourth round of the 1999 tournament. But 24-year-old Paradorn has already got one over the 33-year-old American tennis great. Paradorn beat Agassi in their only meeting in straight sets in the second round of 2002 Wimbledon, but he knows this will be a tougher assignment on the hardcourts of Melbourne. “That was on a grass court and he didn’t know my game at that time,” Paradorn said.
Kournikova Inspired New Crop of Russian Stars
She might have been lampooned for her lack of success on court but Anna Kournikova was no joke according to one of the wave of Russian women who followed her into the professional tennis ranks. Kournikova did not win a WTA singles tournament during her eight years on the tour but Dinara Safina, whose brother Marat Safin won a US Open title, said 22-year-old was the reason there are so many Russian girls playing tennis. “A lot of players want to be like her,” said Safina, one of 13 Russian women who were in the draw at the Australian Open. “Women’s tennis, in Russia and around the world, is popular because of Kournikova.”
Luck of the Draw Favors Revitalized Clijsters
Kim Clijsters cannot believe her luck. Two weeks ago the Belgian was hobbling around on crutches expecting to watch this year’s Australian Open from the stands. But all of a sudden, she looks like the woman to beat. Clijsters has hardly broken sweat in her first three matches and cruised into the fourth round yesterday. The world No. 2 made a remarkable recovery from an ankle injury just to be fit to play at Melbourne Park. “I didn’t have any expectations about getting into the tournament because of my injury so being in the second week is nice,” Clijsters said.
Text Message From Martina Inspired Venus Upset: Raymond
A text message from tennis legend Martina Navratilova helped Lisa Raymond pull off her stunning upset of Venus Williams yesterday. Raymond, a 15-year tour veteran who has only been beyond the third round of a Grand Slam tournament seven times in 44 attempts, sent Williams crashing out of the Australian Open in straight sets. Raymond revealed after her superb victory that she had been inspired by a text message from doubles partner Navratilova exhorting her to ‘Be brave.’ “Martina’s just been great,” said the 30-year-old American, who was not even born when Navratilova was playing her first Grand Slam event in 1973.
Australian Open Aims to Maintain Attendance Surge
The Australian Open is on track for another attendance record. With a dry, mild Week 1 at Melbourne Park, crowds have been pouring into the season’s first Grand Slam. If the trend continues, the event will again surpass 500,000 fans through the gates. Organizers credit introduction of a new “After 5” pass for office-bound workers, who can get onto the grounds at the end of the working day for just 15 Australian dollars ($12). Around 2,000 fans per day have taken up the offer, which allows access to the Margaret Court venue with a showcase match set each evening at 7 p.m.
