Tennis Chatter

Marat Safin’s venomous branding of the Australian Open officials as pathetic (I had to repeat that one) may have left a sour taste that for once they did something right against a high profile player: fining Maria Sharapova $2550 for receiving illegal coaching. Yes, the new world number one Maria Sharapova is fined for illegal coaching signals received from her father Yuri from the stands of the Rod Laver Arena during her close quarterfinal match against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze.

Shame.

I do not understand why the whip against illegal coaching should turn into a public cause when it should have been a standard operating procedure in sports. Be that as it may, clearly there is a need to be more vigilant against illegal coaching in every tournament. Tennis is a sport that banners individual decision-making on court. Never mind the WTA on-court coaching experiment (they think some jokes have not gone stale yet). Why some players’ illegal coaching is overlooked for a time now is despicable. It speaks quite contrary of them being marketed as role models.

The “ultimate competitor�? tag that Sharapova has been hyped will always be a blemished title for all her incorrigible acts of breaking the rules in connivance with her father. Recall the U.S. Open and how she preempted the press and requested for a “positive�? session after her win against Justine Henin-Hardenne. The stain of that banana and fingers incident is still fresh and clear. Currently, she insists and predictably dismisses the thought (with as much intimidating stare as she could muster) that she did not see her father’s gesture. Whatever. Hey, at the end of the day any news is good news, right?

This is the reason why I pick Kim Clijsters to win their semi-final match. The difference between the two is glaring. Kim knows her priorities and executes them honorably despite people’s doubts of her open-ended pronouncements for some time. To me, she is the epitome of a fierce female tennis player.

Sharapova admits that Kim is physically stronger but added that at the end of the day the one who mentally is “a little bit tougher” will win. Of course, she can always glance at her father if the going gets tough. What?! Why for inspiration, of course!

If Kim will not let the shrieking Sharapova (and her father Yuri) dictate the match, she can blaze an unforgettable trail in Australia before she retires in domestic bliss.