The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Best Young prospect

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Friday, Jul 01, 2005

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Best Young prospect

WIMBLEDON: : Touted as the best prospect among the next generation of American players, the 15-year-old Young reached the junior quarterfinals on Wednesday by beating Piero Luisi of Venezuela 7-6 (8), 6-2.

``I watched Wimbledon on TV my whole childhood. Just to play on the courts here is a dream come true,'' said Young, who turns 16 next month.

The left-hander from Chicago is the youngest player to be ranked No. 1 in the 18-and-under division, and he became the youngest Grand Slam junior champion earlier this year when he won the Australian Open. Young has played five events this year on the ATP Tour. He didn't win a match. He didn't even win a set.

Young knows that his increasing fame will make him a role model for others, and he's OK with that. ``I don't feel any pressure at all. I'm happy that people say they do look up to me,'' Young said. ``It gives people a lot of confidence, thinking they can do it, too. And I like the attention. I like the crowds.''

Still here: Eighteen months ago, Thomas Johansson feared his career was over.

On Wednesday, the Swede advanced to the semifinals. It's Johansson's best performance at the All England Club and the furthest he has advanced at a major event since winning the 2002 Australian Open. Johansson missed the entire 2003 season after left knee surgery and considered retirement before his comeback gained momentum.

``This is one of my best weeks in my life,'' the 30-year-old said. ``I'm so happy to be able to play the tennis I did today, and hopefully on Friday I can play a little bit better.''

Amazing partner: Mark Knowles was disappointed that his mixed doubles partnership with Venus Williams failed to deliver a Wimbledon title.

Still, he was happy to get the opportunity to play with Williams. ``It was probably the most fun I've ever had on a doubles court,'' Knowles said after he and Williams lost to Olivier Rochus and Kim Clijsters 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the third round.

``She was an amazing partner. Obviously, it was the first time we played together, and it was kind of bittersweet for me. I didn't really want us to lose because I immensely enjoyed playing with her.''

Knowles has won 37 doubles titles, including the 2002 Australian Open and 2004 U.S. Open with Daniel Nestor. He approached Williams last year, but she wasn't fit enough to play.

Martina advances: At 49, Martina Navratilova can still play two matches a day — and win them both. Even at Wimbledon.

She and 20-year-old partner Anna-Lena Groenefeld advanced to the semifinals in women's doubles on Wednesday, beating Vera Douchevina and Shahar Peer 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Navratilova has won 31 Grand Slam doubles titles and nine in mixed doubles, to go along with 18 in singles.

More aces?: Ivo Karlovic nearly got an extra four aces added to the Wimbledon record of 51 he set last week. The chair umpire's scorecard for the first-round match showed Karlovic had 55 aces against Daniele Bracciali.

Postmatch statistics credited Karlovic with 51. Tournament statisticians reviewed a tape of the match and concluded that total was accurate, Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins said.

Karlovic's total of 51 is still a tournament record and ties the ATP Tour record set by Joachim Johansson at this year's Australian Open. — AP

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