The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : A tough trainer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

A tough trainer

PARIS, JUNE 5. Marat Safin is known for shouting and swearing on court, just like his mom.

Elena Dementieva and Anastasia Myskina both trained as girls in Moscow under Safin's mom, Rausa Islanova, and remember her as a disciplinarian. She also coached Safin until he was 13.

``She was very tough with all the kids,'' said Dementieva, who recalls being afraid to call the coach after losing a match.

``She was screaming at us, saying some bad words to us,'' said Dementieva, laughing. ``No, that's true.''

Myskina remembers her as a ``hard coach'' who pushed young players to practice and improve.

``I think because of this, we're right now here,'' said Myskina.

Dementieva agrees. ``It's about discipline,'' she said. ``I think, maybe, some of this experience was good for us.''

****

Covering history: After Tim Henman reached the semifinals and became big news back home, the number of British journalists at the French Open surged by 25 per cent.

With 57 British journalists already at Roland Garros, another 15 rushed across the Channel, organisers said. `Tiger Tim', as Henman is fondly known by fans, was the first British semifinalist at the French Open since 1963. Henman lost to No. 3 Guillermo Coria 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5 on Friday.

No Brit has won the French Open since Fred Perry in 1935. Henman's grandfather, Henry Billington, reached the quarterfinals in 1939.

****

Resignation rejected: Amelie Mauresmo's coach tried to resign after the Frenchwoman lost her quarterfinal match. Mauresmo turned down the resignation.

Mauresmo, who has reached at least the semifinals of every other Grand Slam event, has never been able to tame her nerves before the hometown crowd at Roland Garros. She entered this year's tournament riding a wave of clay-court momentum this season but fizzled in the quarterfinals against Elena Dementieva, losing 6-4, 6-3.

``I offered my resignation, but she didn't accept it,'' coach Loic Courteau told L'Equipe newspaper. ``We both have the feeling that we haven't finished what we set out to do.''

****

French victory: Teenagers Tatiana Golovin and Richard Gasquet won the mixed doubles final, becoming the youngest team to win the trophy in over two decades. The unseeded French pair upset fourth-seeded brother-sister team Cara and Wayne Black of Zimbabwe 6-3, 6-4.

After winning, discussion turned to the point that sealed the match.

``He stole my smash,'' said Golovin, 16. ``It's easier for a boy to smash than it is for a girl,'' 17-year-old Gasquet retorted.

They are the youngest pair to win a mixed doubles championship since Americans Jimmy Arias and Andrea Jaeger did it at Roland Garros in 1981. Both were 16. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport