Welcome to a new year of "Mr. Ed is? The Line Judge" where we look at some recent quotes from the world of tennis. We start the year off on a positive note with two players on the comeback trail who have turned some tragedy into some good tennis of late. Finally, we visit one of the more quotable players on the tour and find out why his comeback may hit a snag next week in Melbourne.

Alexandra Stevenson's has certainly lived in the limelight since making a splashy run from qualifying to the Wimbledon semifinals in 1999. But not unlike a certain blond Russian with a penchant for hockey players, much of the hype surrounding Stevenson has had little to do with her tennis. After reaching a career high ranking of #33 in early 2000, after those Wimbledon points aged off her ranking the American spent much her time languishing in the 100s. This started to change late last year when, after the September terror attacks, Stevenson was one of the few American players who traveled abroad. Stevenson, even against the advice of her friends Venus and Serena Williams, felt that she could not allow her ranking to slip any further but also she needed an outlet for her grief over two friends she lost on that horrific day. A high school friend was on the hijacked flight that ultimately crashed in Pennsylvania, while a budding romance with her US Open driver never materialized as Manny Del Valle, also a New York firefighter, was in the north tower of the World Trade Center when it collapsed. Despite the odds, and perhaps with more focus, Stevenson improved her ranking to #60 at year's end. Stevenson said "It was really tough but it made me stronger." That was proven a bit this week as Stevenson scored her first win over a top player when she took out Jennifer Capriati in Sydney. Although she was unable to follow that win up (losing handily to fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy, who Stevenson will have to face again in the first round of the Open), the eternally bubbly Stevenson vows to get back to the top of the game. "Everyone is always talking about the power of the Williams sisters and Davenport and Capriati ? in six months it is going to be Alexandra Stevenson."

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As far as Australian tennis comebacks go this year, most eyes are on Mark Philippousiss's return from knee problems, but perhaps the focus should be on Scott Draper. The 27-year-old Draper, who was ranked as high as #42, is just now back playing tennis regularly following the death of his wife Kellie to cystic fibrosis in 1999. Draper strung together a 20-match winning streak late last year on the Australian satellite tour and this past week he easily knocked off Yvgeny Kafelnikov in Kooyong. This marked his first victory over a Top 10 player since 1998. With perhaps the hard times behind him, Draper says "My life is probably as simple as it has ever been right now. I'm thinking a lot about tennis and enjoying my life." Echoing Stevenson's above optimism about the future of his game, the Australian thinks "in a year or two I can be ranked better than I ever was." Draper will be tested quickly in Melbourne as he is scheduled to face Greg Rusedski in the first round.

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Lastly, we have Goran Ivanisevic who does not seem to have the highest expectations going into the first Grand Slam of the year. Since winning the Wimbledon crown, the Croat has been plagued with a shoulder tear and nerve problem that causes him to lose power on his serve. Following his loss to equally big-serving Greg Rusedski, Ivanisevic said if he serves like this in Melbourne "it leaves me to go home very quick." But leave it to Goran to try and find a bright spot: "Last year I lost first round qualies, so at least this year I have made some progress."