/>

TENNIS INDEX -- PAUL FEIN

Published : Jul 19, 2003 00:00 IST

Superstition that Andy Roddick and new coach Brad Gilbert observed during the 2003 Wimbledon: They ate the country's food of opponents the night before. Pic. -- REUTERS-
Superstition that Andy Roddick and new coach Brad Gilbert observed during the 2003 Wimbledon: They ate the country's food of opponents the night before. Pic. -- REUTERS-
lightbox-info

Superstition that Andy Roddick and new coach Brad Gilbert observed during the 2003 Wimbledon: They ate the country's food of opponents the night before. Pic. -- REUTERS-

Number of different surfaces that Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has won tournaments on this year:

4 (indoor hard, hard, clay, and grass).

What 16-year-old rising star Maria Sharapova, who reached the round of 16, did to avoid the paparazzi in Wimbledon village:

She disguised herself in hat and glasses.

Exercise that Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis does over and over again to strengthen his surgically repaired left knee:

He crawls down steep staircases.

Reason why Xavier Malisse says you can tell whether Andy Roddick's serves are good or out on grass:

"Because they literally leave marks on the grass."

Number of players who hit serves 130 mph or faster in 1989, the first year serve speeds were recorded (in a limited number of events):

2 (Yannick Noah and Roger Smith).

Number of players who served 130 mph or faster in 2002:

37.

Who Andre Agassi says is "the greatest coach of all-time":

Brad Gilbert, who coached him for eight years.

Number of months ago that doctors told Mark Philippoussis that he would never play tennis again:

24.

Top 10 player who was dropped from his nation's junior development programme when he was 14:

Wimbledon semifinalist Sebastien Grosjean of France - because the federation thought he was too small to succeed.

Number of years prior to 2003 — when not a single Wimbledon men's quarterfinalist had previously won a Grand Slam singles title — that this rarity last occurred:

30 (in 1973, when a player boycott diluted the field).

Number of consecutive times Serena Williams has beaten her sister Venus:

6 (including five straight in Grand Slam finals).

Actor who told Serena Williams that he watches all her matches and knows what she wears in every one:

Denzel Washington.

Number of times more security guards Wimbledon had in 2003 compared to 1990:

4 (400 vs. 100).

Total number of double-faults in the 2003 Federer-Roddick Wimbledon semifinal:

0.

What Roger Federer's parents did after he threw tantrums and his racket during junior tournament matches:

They said nothing to him during the car ride home.

Percent of the 13 players fined at the 2003 French Open who are male:

100.

Number of men players in the round of 32 at the 2003 French Open who were from either Europe or South America:

28.

Average height of the U.S. Fed Cup team that beat the Czech Republic in April:

6 feet tall.

Number of years that the tradition of curtseying and bowing to the Royal Box at Wimbledon — which ended this year — was upheld:

80 (It started in 1922 when Leslie Godfree and Algie Kingscote instinctively bowed to the Royal Box.)

Player who still curtseyed to the Royal Box at the 2003 Wimbledon even though the tradition was officially dropped:

Martina Navratilova.

Player who overwhelmingly dominated the votes as the most popular Wimbledon women's champion in a BBC poll during the 2003 Championships:

Martina Navratilova.

Number of consecutive sets Roger Federer has won competing for Switzerland in Davis Cup:

26.

What three-time Grand Slam champion Gustavo Kuerten believes a 2004 boycott of Grand Slam events by leading players — demanding a 150% increase in prize money there — would be for the game:

"A catastrophe."

Who Englishwoman Elaine McInnes, who has written books on Zen, uses as an example of the power of the ideal no-mind:

Pete Sampras.

What Andre Agassi says is "the best decision I ever made":

Shaving his hair for the total bald look.

Player who has bluntly told some journalists, "Why on earth would I be interested in what you are saying about my game?":

Tim Henman.

Player that Andy Roddick says "is a great guy and doesn't have an enemy on the whole tour":

Paradorn Srichaphan.

Number of male pros who agreed to play in alternative tennis tournaments set up by the ATP if disagreements with the four Grand Slam events about prize money and other issues were not smoothed over:

More than 80.

Number of years between Martina Navratilova's first and last Wimbledon titles:

27 (1976 doubles with Chris Evert and 2003 mixed doubles with Leander Paes).

Slogan on pink T-shirts worn by Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati at the 2003 Wimbledon as part of a WTA Tour marketing campaign:

"Get in touch with your feminine side."

Who ESPN The Magazine recently voted the world's most recognisable female athlete:

Anna Kournikova, world-ranked No. 77.

Former Wimbledon champion who predicted before the 2003 Wimbledon Championships began that Roger Federer would win the singles title:

Pete Sampras.

More stories from this issue

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment