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Venus Watches Capriati Take Top Ranking
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Reuters Photo
Venus Williams
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Jennifer Capriati (news - profile - photos) completed one of sport's greatest comebacks when she became world No. 1 on Monday but she earned the top ranking almost by default.
Although the 25-year-old Capriati won the Australian and French Open (news - web sites) titles this year, Venus Williams (news - web sites) is undoubtedly the best women's player in the world.
Wimbledon (news - web sites) and U.S. Open (news - web sites) champion Williams would probably have grabbed the No. 1 spot from Martina Hingis (news - profile - photos) months ago but her reluctance to play as many tournaments as the rest of the top players has cost her dear.
While Hingis and Capriati have played 18 and 15 tournaments respectively -- winning three titles each -- Williams has won six out of the 12 events she has played this year.
Capriati, who dropped out of the tour in the mid 1990s after being arrested for shoplifting and possession of marijuana, outlined the secret of her new-found success on Sunday.
``Obviously I have been more committed to the sport in the last few years ... it's every kid's dream to be No. 1 and it feels great.''
It is a feeling Williams has yet to experience and she will need to focus on her career more if she is to achieve it.
Under the guidance of her eccentric father and coach Richard, world No. 4 Venus and her sister Serena are both encouraged to pursue goals outside tennis to develop their all round skills.
FASHION DEGREE
This year Venus has successfully combined a studying for a degree in fashion with her exploits on court.
``I'm just trying to set goals for myself for after tennis,'' Venus said during August's Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Conn.
``I eventually want to be a designer and have my own little line.
``Tennis is what I've worked toward but if I could get my diploma, it would be a dream come true.''
But in her pursuit of the elusive ranking, Venus had entered more tournaments than she had last year -- she played 10 events in 2000 -- in the run up to the season-ending championships in Munich.
After winning the 2000 Wimbledon crown, Venus said: ``I really want to be No. 1. Definitely it's a personal goal.
``I want to get all I can and I can beat all the players out there, I'm really greedy.''
However, the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington have put paid to those plans as she decided to stay with her family in Florida rather than travel to Europe for the events.
In fact Venus and Serena are the only Americans still refusing to travel to Europe and have pulled out of several tournaments over the last month.
With Venus's reluctance to commit herself to a full playing schedule, she can blame no one but herself for her current situation.
While Hingis irritated many by topping the rankings for 73 consecutive weeks despite failing to win a Grand Slam title since the 1999 Australian Open (news - web sites), at least she earned valuable ranking points by consistently reaching the latter stages of the numerous tournaments she entered.
So while Venus continues to stay home and Hingis recuperates from having surgery on damaged ankle ligaments -- after twisting her ankle in Filderstadt last week -- Capriati is almost certain to end the year at the top.
Slideshows
Reuters Photo
Venus Williams
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Jennifer Capriati (news - profile - photos) completed one of sport's greatest comebacks when she became world No. 1 on Monday but she earned the top ranking almost by default.
Although the 25-year-old Capriati won the Australian and French Open (news - web sites) titles this year, Venus Williams (news - web sites) is undoubtedly the best women's player in the world.
Wimbledon (news - web sites) and U.S. Open (news - web sites) champion Williams would probably have grabbed the No. 1 spot from Martina Hingis (news - profile - photos) months ago but her reluctance to play as many tournaments as the rest of the top players has cost her dear.
While Hingis and Capriati have played 18 and 15 tournaments respectively -- winning three titles each -- Williams has won six out of the 12 events she has played this year.
Capriati, who dropped out of the tour in the mid 1990s after being arrested for shoplifting and possession of marijuana, outlined the secret of her new-found success on Sunday.
``Obviously I have been more committed to the sport in the last few years ... it's every kid's dream to be No. 1 and it feels great.''
It is a feeling Williams has yet to experience and she will need to focus on her career more if she is to achieve it.
Under the guidance of her eccentric father and coach Richard, world No. 4 Venus and her sister Serena are both encouraged to pursue goals outside tennis to develop their all round skills.
FASHION DEGREE
This year Venus has successfully combined a studying for a degree in fashion with her exploits on court.
``I'm just trying to set goals for myself for after tennis,'' Venus said during August's Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Conn.
``I eventually want to be a designer and have my own little line.
``Tennis is what I've worked toward but if I could get my diploma, it would be a dream come true.''
But in her pursuit of the elusive ranking, Venus had entered more tournaments than she had last year -- she played 10 events in 2000 -- in the run up to the season-ending championships in Munich.
After winning the 2000 Wimbledon crown, Venus said: ``I really want to be No. 1. Definitely it's a personal goal.
``I want to get all I can and I can beat all the players out there, I'm really greedy.''
However, the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington have put paid to those plans as she decided to stay with her family in Florida rather than travel to Europe for the events.
In fact Venus and Serena are the only Americans still refusing to travel to Europe and have pulled out of several tournaments over the last month.
With Venus's reluctance to commit herself to a full playing schedule, she can blame no one but herself for her current situation.
While Hingis irritated many by topping the rankings for 73 consecutive weeks despite failing to win a Grand Slam title since the 1999 Australian Open (news - web sites), at least she earned valuable ranking points by consistently reaching the latter stages of the numerous tournaments she entered.
So while Venus continues to stay home and Hingis recuperates from having surgery on damaged ankle ligaments -- after twisting her ankle in Filderstadt last week -- Capriati is almost certain to end the year at the top.
