Steffi aims to leave mark on grass

Wimbledon, June 21: The temptation of history which beckons the great players when they walk on to the centre court of the All England Club ...

Wimbledon, June 21: The temptation of history which beckons the great players when they walk on to the centre court of the All England Club on a balmy June afternoon, will have its strongest implications on two of the greatest players tennis has ever seen. The gentleman and the lady, as they call the players on this piece of grass, have been battling the slings and arrows of entirely different dimensions even as they embark on this fortnight-long magical mystery tour.

The gentleman, Pete Sampras8217; staple diet these days seems to be humble pie. Never before in his career has he been forced to gulp down that none-too-tasty dish, especially by journeymen ranging from Paraguayans to Australians. He abdicated his crown only to get it back by default and the days ahead will determine whether he will crawl towards that figure of 12 Slams, now standing against Roy Emerson8217;s name. If there is any player who has an acute sense of history, it is the American who knows that he8217;s just a corner away from becoming one ofthe biggest icons in the game.

And, for the ailing and injury-ruled lady, Fraulein Steffi Graf, it could what the pundits feel be her last fling at grass court glory. She has won seven times here and despite all the hours she spent at the surgeon8217;s table the last year or so, she would be looking for that honourable exit. That is why every champion looks for when they begin to pack their bags and begin to disappear in their world of their own. It is strange though that all great German players choose this place and time to say that big Thank You8217;. Last year, the great Boris whispered to Sampras that it is all over and when he was a few steps away from the players8217; lounge, and into history books, he turned back and raised both his arms to seek farewell to the crowd which helped him become what he has.

No doubt, this year could be the turn of another great, another German, to say goodbye. In a game where twenty-somethings are considered grand-mummies, the 29-year-old Graf, more than wanting to win thetitle, would be looking for that grand hurrah 8212; the empress of grand entrance looking for a last exit. The brigadiers of the teen brigade have swiftly moved in to try and erase what the 21-time Grand Slam winner has achieved over the years. One moment of ignominy could turn all those years of unparalleled achivements into dust and the German is not the kind of player who should sign off like that. Like all previous champions, she has been given a center court match soon after the men8217;s defending champion finishes off his. The All England Club is perhaps the only place where has beens are given some pride of place and Graf and the club go a long way. For all the pain she has suffered during her career, more mental than physical, there won8217;t be a better gift for Graf than a standing ovation from the centre court crowd. They have not let any champion down in that sense. Certainly not Graf. The teens can wait for another morning Let the legends; leave with their piece of history.

Paes, Bhupathi face toughopeners

India8217;s No 2 player Mahesh Bhupathi, after successfully battling through three rounds of qualifying, will run into French Open champion Carlos Moya in the first round. Bhupathi, ranked in the 300s, had demolished 135th ranked Christophe van Grasse of Belgium in the final round yesterday in straight sets. Even though Moya may not find grass his favourite surface, it would be rather tough for the Indian to get pst the fifth-seeded Spaniard. Last year, too, Bhupathi qualified without losing a set, but ran into Marcelo Rios who defeated him in straight sets.

Leander Paes also has a very tough first-round match against Wayne Black, ranked 81. Black, the youngest of Black brothers from Zimbabwe, has been playing great tennis off late. He defeated US Open champion Patrick Rafter in four sets in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group in April last.

Paes, who has dropped to 117, could find Black tough because of the Zimbabwean8217;s all-court game which has improved considerably. And if PAesmanages to post his first win at The Championships, he would run into Todd Woodbridge, the Australian who was a surprise semi-finalist last year.In the doubles, the Indians are seeded third and meet Andrei Olhovisky Russia and Max Mirnyi of Belarus. The Indians lost in the first round last year.