Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The truth8217;s out: Alexandra8217;s father is basketballer Dr J
The incessant drive to find out the father of Alexandra Stevenson, the first ever woman qualifier in the Wimbledon semifinals, seems to have finally borne fruit.
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 Senior8217;s drunken brawl during the tournament at Edgbaston, which gave him the name quot;Dad from Hell8217;. Obviously, there was no congratulatory handshakes after the match from the two camps. Sure, there is more coming from the latest teen rivalry in women8217;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: quot;That was to show how smart I am to pick the right partner. I8217;m playing with one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.It8217;s still the same feeling on Centre court. It8217;s magical.quot;
Eat pizza for breakfast: Rafter
Want to win? Eat pizza for breakfast. That8217;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. quot;I love getting the pies in before a match,quot; the Australian apparently told the salesman at the players8217; 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.
