Wimbledon Diary

One of America’s greatest basketball players, the former 76ers star, Julius Winfield Erving II, has admitted that he is the father of the latest sensation at Wimbledon. DrJ, as he is popularly known and who now coaches Orlando Magic, conceded that he had a `fling’ with Alexandra’s mother Samantha in the 1980s when she was covering his team the 76ers. In a statement released yesterday, he said all matters regarding Alexandra has been handled through a counsel and he has paid maintenance towards her upbringing.He said he has met her daughter only once. Dr. J is married and has four children.

No congratulations from both sides

While on Stevenson, she wants to be in the movies when she quits tennis. She has already written a script and has even starred in a production of theWizard of Oz. She has a huge grin which seems straight out of a Hollywood make-up shop as she curtsied to the crowd after beating another teenage star on the rise Jelena Dokic.

Incidentally, it was Samantha, her mother, who broke the story to the New York Times about Dokic Senior’s drunken brawl during the tournament at Edgbaston, which gave him the name "Dad from Hell’. Obviously, there was no congratulatory handshakes after the match from the two camps. Sure, there is more coming from the latest teen rivalry in women’s tennis.

Playing with greatest athlete: McEnroe

John McEnroe rolled back the years when he reached the mixed doubles semifinals with Steffi Graf. The 40-year-old legend delighted a packed Centre Court crowd with good tennis. The three-time champion pointed to the side of his head as he accepted the cheers from the crowd. He explained later: "That was to show how smart I am to pick the right partner. I’m playing with one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.It’s still the same feeling on Centre court. It’s magical."

Eat pizza for breakfast: Rafter

Want to win? Eat pizza for breakfast. That’s what Patrick Rafter did before he went out to play against Todd Martin in the quarterfinals. The fact that he ended up winning meant that the fast food did not do him any harm. "I love getting the pies in before a match," the Australian apparently told the salesman at the players’ restaurant. He not only had a generous helping of pizza but even autographed a pizza carton for the salesman.

Following spectators norms: Venus

One of the star spectators at the Rafter-Martin quarterfinals was Venus Williams. She waited until there was a break in play before finding a place in the upper rows. She left within five minutes to answer a call on her mobile phone. Since phones have to be switched off during play, the star heard the vibrations from the phone and slipped out to answer the call, only to see about 20 people following her for autographs. Williams obligedeach one of them before going back to her seat.