Fans are hoping Capriati wins Wimbledon

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 4, 2001

As the competition narrows to a talented few this week in the Lawn Tennis Championships of Wimbledon, area enthusiasts offer their predictions for the singles winners.

Beginning in 1877, the Grand Slam event has grown to a tournament that attracts 450,000-plus spectators at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Most of us are unable to travel to England to be on site, but the majority are tuned in to the television or for on-line computer updates throughout the two-week event.

Whether a sentimental favorite or the logical player to capture the 107th women's title, Saddlebrook Resort's Jennifer Capriati was chosen most often by fans. On the men's side, however, the quest for the 115th championship varied from Pete Sampras to Goran Ivanisevic.

"I would go with Pete Sampras and Venus Williams as the winners," said Doug Woods, head teaching professional at St. Petersburg Tennis Center. "If not them, my sentimental favorites would be Agassi and Capriati."

With the elimination of Sampras on Monday, choosing the men's champion for Jeff Davis was a little easier. Picking the women's winner remains a difficult choice, he said.

"I feel real strong for Agassi to win, especially after Pete lost," said Davis, a former college and satellite player. "It's tough to bet against Agassi at this point.

"It's tougher choosing on the women's side, although it would be wonderful if Capriati would pull off a win," Davis said. "She's looking strong and seems mentally tough."

Although Woods and Davis differ somewhat on their preferences, the two are teaming to bring about 40 fifth- and sixth-graders from the Academy Prep Center for Education to St. Petersburg Tennis Center next week to begin a six-session USA Tennis 1-2-3 program.

Davis, a USA Community Coordinator for the USTA Florida Section, has assisted Woods in getting volunteers and equipment for the introductory program that will be led by Woods.

Meanwhile, Mike Collins, president of the Suncoast Tennis Foundation, favors Ivanisevic as the Wimbledon men's champ for sentimental reasons but thinks sixth-seed Tim Henman may end up winning.

"I think a lot of people would like to see Goran win, even though logically that may not happen," Collins said. "Rafter has a good chance, too."

DID YOU KNOW? Ashley Harkleroad of Wesley Chapel has won her first two matches in Wimbledon's girls singles tournament.

In her opener, Harkleroad defeated Russia's Galina Voskobeva 6-3, 6-3. Next up was Italy's Giorgia Mortello, whom Harkleroad eliminated 6-4, 6-2.

Top-seeded Harkleroad, originally from Georgia, has trained at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel for nearly two years while her International Junior Federation junior ranking has improved to fourth.

The 16-year-old reached the semifinal round in the Australian Open and French Open this year. Jimmy Brown, formerly of Largo, coaches the promising player at Saddlebrook.

JUNIORS AT BUSH: Area players earning seeded positions for this week's Florida Bush Open, a national junior tournament in Fort Myers, include Stacia Fonseca, Bugsy Bauer, Brianna Williams, Timothy Neilly, Goran Dragicevic and R.J. Murray.

Fonseca, who won last month's girls 16-and-under state singles title, is the fourth seed. Bauer, a girls 16 state runner-up, is No. 9; Williams is No. 17 in 16; Neilly, a state champion in boys 16, is No. 11; Dragicevic, who finished fifth at state, is No. 8 in 18; and Murray is No. 12 in the 18.

PLAYING FOR FLORIDA: Sunday, Elena Berry joins a team of 15 girls and 15 boys that will represent Florida in the USTA 14-and-under Zone Team Championships at Palm Aire Racquet Club in Pompano Beach.

Florida will challenge USTA sections Southern, Northwest, Intermountain and Hawaii Pacific.

Among 16 boys in the 14-and-under division for the Team Florida Challenge beginning Monday at Ballen Isles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens is Nicholas Berning of Seminole.

Playing with the top 20 girls in the 12-and-under class of the USTA Zone Team Competition July 21-26 at Centennial Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn., is Morgan Frank of Oldsmar.

The team events include round-robin singles, doubles and mixed doubles with squads from USTA sections Mid-Atlantic, Southern, Midwest and the Caribbean.

Competing in the USTA 16 Zone Team Championships July 28-Aug. 2 at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., are Ryan Buchanan, Haley Dodson and Marc Sawyer among the 15 boys. The Florida team will be in a round-robin competition with USTA sections Southern, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

Murray is a member of a six-player Junior Davis Cup team that will compete July 28-31 in Columbia, S.C. Kelly Nelson was selected to the six-player Junior Fed Cup squad scheduled to play July 31-Aug. 3 in San Rafael, Calif.

COMING UP: The Summer Junior Classic is this weekend at Royal Racquet Club in Clearwater. Call Donna Szazynski, (727) 791-8415, to enter the state-sanctioned singles and doubles competition. ... A super series junior tournament is scheduled for July 14-16 at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. Contact Krishnan Anandan, (727) 394-1733. ... This month's Suncoast Tennis Singles event is July 22 at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. Call 787-7985 for details.

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