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Tennis
One year later, coach gets title
By Times wire
Published January 31, 2005
MELBOURNE, Australia - Peter Lundgren was dumped as Roger Federer 's coach in December 2003, barely a month before Federer won the Australian Open.
Sunday, Lundgren was in the stands when his new pupil, Marat Safin , beat Lleyton Hewitt in the final.
"I never believed in myself until I started working with him," said Safin, coached by Lundgren since May. "We worked really hard. We communicate really well. He understood who I am, and I understood what he wants from me.
"He makes me believe that I can be a good player. And I don't have so much doubt about myself, about my tennis."
Lundgren, 40, was born in Sweden, won three singles and three doubles titles after turning pro in 1983, and his highest ranking was 25th in 1985.
FROM KIM TO BEC: Hewitt announced his engagement to Australian actor Bec Cartwright . He proposed after his defeat, Agence France-Presse reported. Hewitt split with Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters three months ago. They had planned to marry next month.
BIG CROWDS: The 14-day tournament drew 500,000 fans for the sixth consecutive year. Sunday's attendance of 19,273 brought the total to 543,873, an increase of more than 20,000 from last year. The tournament also set a one-day attendance record, 60,069 on Jan.22.
REPLAY COMING: Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee said video technology to assist chair umpires is "inevitable" and funds have been allocated for next year's event. He said replay should be on point-ending challenges only: "Otherwise, you would end up with no linesmen at all. You would have machines calling the lines, and that is not where the sport wants to go."
NATIONAL HISTORY: Australia will have a man and woman in the world's top 10 for the first time in 21 years when the new rankings are released today.
Hewitt will rise from third to second after becoming the first Australian since John Newcombe in 1970 to reach the quarterfinals of four consecutive Grand Slams. Federer, who lost to Safin in the semifinals, will remain No.1. Andy Roddick will drop from second to third, and Safin will be fourth.
Alicia Molik will climb from 12th to 10th after becoming the first Australian woman since Anne Minter in 1988 to reach the quarterfinals, beating Venus Williams in the fourth round. Finalist Lindsay Davenport will remain at No.1 while Australian Open champion Serena Williams will move from seventh to second.
DOUBLE DUTY: Australia's Scott Draper and Samantha Stosur beat Kevin Ullyett and Liezel Huber 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6) in the mixed doubles final. Next up for Draper: Ernie Els . Draper, also a pro golfer, had to juggle sports during the past four days, playing in his first pro golf event Friday morning and winning his mixed doubles semifinal Friday afternoon. He missed the cut in the Victoria Open with rounds of 79 and 74. "It's been interesting," Draper said. Draper, who qualified for his Australasian PGA Tour card in December, is hoping for a start in this week's Heineken Classic in Melbourne, which is scheduled to include Els, Greg Norman and Colin Montgomerie .
THE YOUNGEST: American Donald Young won the boys title, beating top-seeded Kim Sun-yong 6-2, 6-4. At 15, he will become the youngest to top the junior rankings.
[Last modified January 31, 2005, 00:38:15]
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