Joined
·
15,719 Posts
Her is the link http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2001/sportsman/contenders/capriati/
At an age when many professional tennis players start contemplating retirement, Jennifer Capriati mounted one of the most impressive comebacks in the history of the game. In 2001, the 25-year-old Florida native proved she could still compete at an elite level by winning the year's first two majors and reaching the semifinals of its second two. For Capriati -- who turned pro at 13 and dropped off the tour four years later because of drug and personal problems -- simply playing tennis again would have been a significant feat. Capriati's resurgence began in January when she arrived at the Australian Open in peak condition and stunned top seed Martina Hingis 6-4, 6-3 to win her first career Grand Slam title. Proving her performance Down Under was no fluke, in early June Capriati survived a showdown with Kim Clijsters in the French Open final to become the first American woman since Chris Evert in 1986 to win in Paris. At Wimbledon, Capriati tore through the opening rounds, riding a 19-match Grand Slam win streak into her semifinals faceoff against Justine Henin. Though the Belgian teenager rallied to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and end Capriati's bid for a Slam sweep, Capriati used the energy and competitive drive she had been fueled by all year to reach her first U.S. Open semifinals in a decade. After jumping out to a 4-1 first-set lead against eventual champion Venus Williams, Capriati faded and ultimately lost 6-4, 6-2. Though disappointed by the defeat, Capriati closed out the 2001 Slam season with a No. 2 world ranking and, more important, renewed confidence, "Dreams do come true," said Capriati. "if you keep believing in yourself."
At an age when many professional tennis players start contemplating retirement, Jennifer Capriati mounted one of the most impressive comebacks in the history of the game. In 2001, the 25-year-old Florida native proved she could still compete at an elite level by winning the year's first two majors and reaching the semifinals of its second two. For Capriati -- who turned pro at 13 and dropped off the tour four years later because of drug and personal problems -- simply playing tennis again would have been a significant feat. Capriati's resurgence began in January when she arrived at the Australian Open in peak condition and stunned top seed Martina Hingis 6-4, 6-3 to win her first career Grand Slam title. Proving her performance Down Under was no fluke, in early June Capriati survived a showdown with Kim Clijsters in the French Open final to become the first American woman since Chris Evert in 1986 to win in Paris. At Wimbledon, Capriati tore through the opening rounds, riding a 19-match Grand Slam win streak into her semifinals faceoff against Justine Henin. Though the Belgian teenager rallied to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and end Capriati's bid for a Slam sweep, Capriati used the energy and competitive drive she had been fueled by all year to reach her first U.S. Open semifinals in a decade. After jumping out to a 4-1 first-set lead against eventual champion Venus Williams, Capriati faded and ultimately lost 6-4, 6-2. Though disappointed by the defeat, Capriati closed out the 2001 Slam season with a No. 2 world ranking and, more important, renewed confidence, "Dreams do come true," said Capriati. "if you keep believing in yourself."
