Tennis takes a back seat at Wimbledon 2000

Tennis takes a back seat at Wimbledon 2000
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wimbledon, July 10: Anna Kournikova was surprised by a streaker, Jeff Tarango threw a tantrum, there were charges of racism and countercharges, and a tennis parent smashed a reporter's phone.

The two-week tournament hadn't even begun when Alex Corretja and Albert Costa pulled out, upset that the All-England Club seeded grass-court players higher than clay-courters like the two Spaniards.

Embarrassed by the pullout 12 hours before the first serve, Wimbledon and ATP Tour officials promised to review the system for 2001. ``We're not terrorists,'' Corretja told All-England Club chairman Tim Phillips. ``But it seems like you can fix the draw.''

Despite the strong words, the two escaped without fines. Seventeen-year-old Australian Jelena Dokic got to the semifinals -- topping her surprise quarter-final run a year ago -- and her father, Damir, got in trouble again. Damir Dokic was escorted off the All-England Club grounds for smashing a reporter's cellular phone.

Last year, he was ejected from a tournament in Birmingham for calling officials ``Nazis'' and promptly sat down on the street to block traffic. The tabloids had a field day. `Mad Dad Dokic is back in dock,' said The Mirror.

Another dad was the darling of the tabloids. Richard Williams, the 58-year-old father of Venus and Serena, was liked for saying anything and everything. He also let them follow him on a ``four cigarette'' walk away from the Wimbledon grounds as his daughters were playing each other because he ``couldn't bear to look''.

American 18-year-old Alexandra Stevenson made accusations of racism against two French players. The French called her a liar.

Anne-Gaelle Sidot admitted she tugged on the hat of Stevenson's mother, Samantha, at a recent tournament but accused Stevenson of lying about an incident on a practice court in Strasbourg, France.

The younger Stevenson said another French player, Amelie Cocheteux, cursed her and used a racial slur. Cocheteux denied the accusation. ``This is all pure invention,'' Cocheteux said.

Andre Agassi, fearful of injury, lambasted Wimbledon referee Alan Mills for not calling off a match soon enough as rain began. After beating fellow American Todd Martin, he phoned Mills to apologize.

There were complaints about playing the best matches late in the day, apparently to suit television, and the usual complaints a bout wet, gray, depressing English weather.

Then there was Jeff Tarango being Jeff Tarango. The American, who stormed off the court at Wimbledon in 1995 as his wife slapped the chair umpire on the way out, refused to shake hands with fellow American Paul Goldstein and accused him of ``faking'' an injury after he dropped a five-set match.

Then there was Anna Smashnova living up to her name. Upset by the cheering of her opponent's husband, Smashnova hit a ball in his direction, which instead hit a woman spectator in the stands. The woman was in tears but uninjured. Smashnova was fined $3,000.

Natasha Zvereva was fined only $1,000 for making an obscene gesture following her loss in the women's doubles semifinals with partner Anna Kournikova. They were beaten by Venus and Serena Williams.

And, oh yes, Wimbledon's 19-year-old darling Kournikova was streaked by a man who must have thought he had more sex appeal than she did. The middle-aged man stepped over a barrier behind the players on Court 14 during a changeover, dropped his shorts and cavorted while fans cheered. Kournikova and her partner Zvereva claimed they didn't look although photos said otherwise.

The 35-year-old man was released and no charges were filed. ``I was just trying to think about the match,'' Kournikova said.

It was difficult to keep your mind on tennis at Wimbledon this year.