As the season winds to a close, this week we look at some of the latest developments in the world of tennis romances, Sébastien?s Grosjean?s panicky papa, and the coaching genius of? Petr Korda?
Social notes
Lindsay Davenport has reportedly said ?Yes!? to the marriage proposal of her long-time boyfriend Jon Leach. According to the Los Angeles Times, Leach popped the question shortly after the U.S. Open.
Several other romantic liaisons were also made known in recent weeks. According to the Swedish Newspaper Expressen, one of the main reasons that Lleyton Hewitt accepted a wild card to the Swedish Open was that he wanted to check out Joachim Johansson. Johansson is a 20-year-old Swedish prospect who met Lleyton?s little sister Jaslyn at the 2000 Australian Open, and the two are now dating. Hopefully the Joachim-Jaslyn relationship works out better than Johansson?s doubles partnership with Jaslyn?s
big brother: Lleyton teamed with his sister?s romantic interest in Stockholm, and lost in the first round.
During last month?s Masters Series event in Madrid, 21-year-old Spaniard Feliciano López drew rave reviews for his brave serve-volley tactics during a narrow three-set loss to Andre Agassi. The Spanish press revealed that Feliciano?s name has been linked romantically to WTA pro María Sánchez Lorenzo. Age differences are obviously not an obstacle to Feliciano, who is three years younger than the attractive Sánchez Lorenzo.
Papa Grosjean can?t bear to watch
Many tennis parents are known to take an active -- sometimes too active -- role in their children?s careers. On the other side of the coin, there are some parents who are almost never seen at their kids? matches. The most famous examples are Sam and Georgia Sampras, who are almost never in attendance when their son plays. They broke the unwritten rule in 2000 when they attended Pete?s record-breaking Wimbledon championship victory. ?They get very nervous,? said their famous son after that historic fin
al. ?They're very shy people."
According to the French daily Le Parisien, Sébastien Grosjean?s father Jean-Pierre can be added to the list of low-profile, nervous parents. The elder Grosjean admitted this week that he never attends Sébastien?s matches because he gets too stressed out. But he has decided he will try to battle his nerves and attend the Davis Cup final between France and Russia later this month in Paris, where it is expected that Sébastien will be one of France?s singles players. ?If I make it to the end of the m
atch I'll be surprised,? admitted Jean-Pierre, ?but I'm going to try because a Davis Cup final doesn't come around every day."
Papa Grosjean tried to rehearse for the big event at the Masters Series in Paris this week, and fully intended to watch his son?s second round match against Denmark?s Kenneth Carlsen from the stands. But the nervous dad panicked when the players came on court and announced, ?Allez, je m?en vais!? Freely translated: ?I?m outta here!?
Despite the lack of parental support, Sébastien won that match. Hopefully Jean-Pierre did not decide to watch his third round loss to Carlos Moyá, however, as Sébastien blew 6 match points in a heartbreaking 3-6, 7-6(12-10), 6-1 loss.
Korda lives!
Petr Korda was a brilliant tennis talent, an Australian Open champion and the master of the scissors kick. Korda is also unfortunately also remembered as the highest-profile professional to be suspended for a positive drugs test. The skinny Czech known as ?Woodstock? and ?The Human Toothbrush? has maintained a low profile since retiring two years ago. This week, Korda?s name resurfaced in Paris.
It seems that Korda can take much of the credit for the remarkable improvement of his countryman Radek Stepanek. Stepanek, known primarily as a doubles specialist before this year, had an abysmal singles ranking of 542 at the end of last year, and asked Korda to work with him during the off-season. Radek told the British newspaper The Independent that Korda?s helpful advice came with a guarantee of success. ?You will listen to everything,? Korda told Stepanek, ?and I guarantee if you listen you
are going to play US Open main draw, and at the end of the year you are going to be in the top 70.? Which is precisely what has happened!
When word of this gets out, ?Woodstock? might be besieged by an army of struggling tennis pros.