Around the World with Mr. Ed (August 17, 2002)
by Ed Toombs



Practice court intrigue

Fans attending a tournament during qualifying or the early rounds have a multitude of viewing choices on the grounds. Instead of watching matches involving little known players, many opt to watch their favourite stars grooving their games on the practice courts. But do you think all that's happening on the practice courts is practice? Think again!

Occasionally, a young up-and-coming player can use a practice session to make a statement against a more established star. A case in point involved Justine Henin and Daniela Hantuchova at Indian Wells in March of this year. Henin was seeded third at the big California tournament, and was widely regarded as one of the women to beat. Hantuchova, with the same seeding as her age (18), was regarded as a promising player. She had in the past played competitive matches against some top players, but was still looking for her first breakthrough result.

Hantuchova's breakthrough came when she stunned Henin, 6-3, 6-3, in the fourth round in Indian Wells.

Justine had practiced with Daniela just before the tournament, and the practice session left Henin a bit apprehensive about their match. "I practiced with her some days ago, and I could feel she was playing well," confessed Henin in a commendably frank admission. "Maybe I was a little bit afraid of this match." Hantuchova remembered the practice session, and she said it worked in her favour, giving her confidence for the match. "When I played her in the practice, I didn't give her any chance, the same as I did in the match today."

Hantuchova rode this big win, prepared on the practice courts, to her first tournament title, as she shocked Martina Hingis in the Indian Wells final.

The carry-over effect of practice sessions on tournament play can also work the other way, benefiting the established stars, as we were reminded this week in Montreal.

In the third round, Martina Hingis, just returning from a three-month injury layoff and somewhat rusty, was matched against an up-and-comer out of Argentina, Clarisa Fernández. The Argentine had been a surprise semi-finalist at the French Open this spring, and figured to be a potentially tricky opponent for the former number one. Ah, but Martina knew something we didn't: information gleaned from the practice courts.

Martina had noticed Clarisa's excellent form in Paris, and was curious. "She replaced me in the French Open and she reached the semi-finals, so obviously she's a good player," recalled Hingis. But Hingis had never played the newcomer, and knew little about her before this week.

During the tournament's early days, Fernández was looking for a hitting partner, and Hingis suggested they hit for a while together. An act of kindness? Not entirely.... The session allowed the Swiss star to get a feel for the upstart's game. "I saw that she had a typical South American game with a lot of topspin," said Hingis, "and I wasn't worried."

As fate would have it, the two wound up meeting later in the week, this time for real. Armed with the peace of mind obtained on the practice courts, an unworried Hingis was able to cruise to a 6-4, 6-2 win over the Argentine lefthander.

So next time you watch your idol in practice, don't just rivet your eyes on your favourite. It can be enlightening to look at who he or she is practicing with and what is going on, and wonder why.



You may read previous Mr. Ed columns by clicking here.