The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Ai Sugiyama’s new mark

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Ai Sugiyama’s new mark

WIMBLEDON: Japanese player Ai Sugiyama set a record for most consecutive Grand Slam main draw appearances — by a woman or man — when she started her 57th with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

“I’m very happy. When I heard the number of Grand Slams I played it’s actually really huge numbers,” said Sugiyama, who will turn 33 next week. “Even here I came 16 times — this is my 16th Wimbledon — it’s been great. I just don’t want to just be here but I want to perform well as well.”

Sugiyama said she has never had a serious injury, and travels with a trainer and has a massage everyday to prolong her career.

South Africa’s Wayne Ferreira previously held the record at 56 straight tournaments.

Buzzing around

There’s a buzz going around Wimbledon about the birds and the bees.

After having to deal with a swarm of bees around the player locker rooms, Wimbledon organisers received a letter from an animal rights group condemning the treatment of pigeons at the All England Club.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it had seen newspaper reports that army marksmen were being used to shoot pigeons around the club.

PETA sent a letter to Tim Phillips, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and members of the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit to outline Wimbledon’s “apparently illegal action.”

“We believe that the club should be prosecuted for cruelty to animals,” said the letter, which was released to the media on Tuesday.

No vote for Williams

Serena Williams would vote for Barrack Obama if she could. Don’t even ask Venus Williams what her political leaning is.

The Williams sisters, vocal on so many issues from fashion to gender equality, say they’re not allowed to vote because of their religion. The two, who have 14 Grand Slam singles titles between them, are Jehovah’s Witness.

After their first-round wins at Wimbledon, both were asked about the Nov. 4 presidential election between Barack Obama, campaigning to become the first black president, and John McCain.

“I feel that what I do in tennis isn’t really political,” Venus said. The work she does for UNESCO and other agencies was about helping people, she said, “I don’t see it as political. “I don’t vote.”

Younger sister, Serena, said she was “excited to see Obama out there doing his thing.”

“I’m a Jehovah’s Witness, so I don’t get involved in politics. We stay neutral. We don’t vote,” she said. “So I’m not going to necessarily go out and vote for him. I would if it wasn’t for my religion.” —AP

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