Their Problems Appear to Be All in Their Heads

They have paid attention to their bodies in motion, and it shows on the court. There is little doubt that women are hitting the ball better, serving harder and running faster, leading to an exciting brand of tennis. Martina Navratilova set the standard, then Venus and Serena Williams raised the bar.

These days, some of the women on the tour would not look out of place on the pool deck, ready to compete in the 200-meter butterfly or in an international water polo match.

Still, there’s one problem. With all the attention to developing the physique, one body part has been sadly neglected.

The head.

One veteran player agent, in casual conversation, noted that the top players were lacking mental toughness. What got him thinking was Daniela Hantuchova’s early loss to Cara Black at Miami, after her breakthrough title at Indian Wells.

And that was before Justine Henin’s mental struggles against Venus Williams in the Amelia Island final. Henin, an immensely talented baseliner, led, 6-2, 4-0, 40-15, and managed to lose.

Veteran Henin watchers knew she could crumble, even after she’d pulled herself together to lead in the third set, 5-3. It had happened before, notably at the French Open last year when she lost a semifinal to countrywoman Kim Clijsters after leading, 6-2, 4-2, 40-15.

She has been shaky this year in a different way. For months, she has been talking about her flagging confidence, saying she was unnerved against Hantuchova at Indian Wells. This from a 2001 Wimbledon finalist.

Then there is Amelie Mauresmo, who felt the pressure before her home fans at the French Open last year and lost to unheralded Jana Kandarr of Germany in the first round. She hasn’t been a serious threat in a major event since.

Mauresmo lately has been unable to win on clay, her favorite surface. She lost her first match at Amelia Island to Anne Kremer of Luxembourg, then to Patty Schnyder of Switzerland at Charleston.

The tour hired an advertising agency last week to promote its players. A better idea: traveling psychologists.

Deja Vu

Haven’t we heard this before? Richard Williams says something and, surprise, his daughters have no idea what he is talking about. Or he agrees to some deal that Venus and Serena have no intention of fulfilling.

The Williamses are being sued by Women’s Sports Zone Inc., which maintains that Richard signed an agreement to have his daughters play John and Patrick McEnroe in an exhibition. Attorney Keven Davis, representing the sisters, said Venus and Serena never consented to play the McEnroes.

At the 2000 U.S. Open, in fact, Venus and Serena all but sneered when John threw down the challenge to them. John kept it up, taking shots at Venus and Serena through his various media outlets, and the sisters responded by practically ignoring him, although Serena once joked, “You want a piece of me?”

The moral of this story: If Venus says something, listen. If Serena says something, listen. If Richard says something? Well, remember, he’s the one who said he was going to buy Rockefeller Center.

Comebacks, Retirements

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil is ahead of schedule in his recovery from hip surgery in February and is planning to return to the circuit later this month. He resumed practicing a little more than two weeks ago.

For him, the road to the French Open will begin in Mallorca, Spain, followed by tournaments in Rome and Hamburg.

“We did everything we are used to doing on the court,” said Kuerten’s longtime coach, Larri Passos. “He moved very well, in all shots, and we didn’t even remember he had undergone surgery. For the next days, Guga will be playing sets and working on the details of his preparation.”

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Chris Woodruff, the U.S Davis Cup hero in the first round at Zimbabwe in 2000, announced his retirement last week. The 29-year-old had been on the ATP Tour since he turned pro in 1993, won two tournaments, and was best known for winning the decisive match against Wayne Black in Harare.

Tournament Notes

U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Andy Roddick have joined defending champion Andre Agassi as early entrants for the Mercedes-Benz Cup at UCLA July 22-28.

There will be 10 pre-qualifying events in California, starting at Laurel Glen Tennis Club in Bakersfield on April 29-May 5 and ending at Pacific Palms Tennis Center in Industry, July 8-10. From these tournaments, the singles winner and runner-up and the winning doubles team will receive spots in the wild-card tournament July 11-14.

Details: Annette Buck, circuit director, (310) 208-3838, ext. 224.

Quote, Unquote

“I was trying to learn how to tie my shoes at 15.”

Roddick on 15-year-old qualifier Richard Gasquet of France, who reached the second round at Monte Carlo.

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