Rusedski Leads 'Charge of the Unseeded' in Wimbledon Tune-ups

ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW
Two former Nottingham champions advanced to the semis Thursday in extremely windy conditions when unseeded Greg Rusedski thrilled the homecountry crowds with third set tiebreak win over former Wimbledon semifinalist Vladimir Voltchkov, and defending champion and unseeded Jonas Bjorkman received a walkover against No. 7 Taylor Dent, who aggravated a back injury. Also into the semis were qualifier Hicham Arazi (d. Arthurs) and No. 8 seed Mardy Fish (d. Popp in three), his first grasscourt semi. "I come into a tournament like this with expectations to do really well," said the neophyte Fish, who with his Krajicek-like game could fill the Sampras void among U.S. players. "Grass is a very good surface for me, something I love to play on and a couple more wins I get my first tournament win." Friday semifinals are (Q)Arazi vs. Rusedski (the Brit leads the head-to-head 3-1), and (8)Fish vs. Bjorkman (first meeting).
Two unseeded players worked their way into the 's-Hertogenbosch quarters Thursday when Czech Jan Vacek beat No. 5 Sebastien Grosjean in three sets, and Spaniard Fernando Vicente outlasted Lars Burgsmuller in three. Also into the quarters were (1)Novak (d. Mutis) and (7)Clement (d. Van Scheppingen in three). On court today are (6)Robredo vs. (3)Schalken (Robredo leads 2-1, including a grasscourt win), van Lottum vs. "Everybody Loves" Raemon Sluiter in an all-wooden shoes affair, Vicente vs. (7)Clement, and (1)Novak vs. Vacek in an all-Czech affair (Vacek leads 1-0).

WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
Unseeded 31-year-old Silvia Farina Elia of Italy followed up her win over top-seeded Lindsey Davenport with an upset of No. 8 Magdalena "Call Me Maggie" Maleeva on Thursday in Eastbourne, joined in the semis by another unseeded player in former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez (d. (4)Daniela "The Walking Stick" Hantuchova). Rounding out the semis were (2)Rubin (d. Pistolesi 6-1, 6-0), and (3)Capriati (d. Dechy). "They're making me work, but the matches are not incredibly long so I'm hopefully not going to get fatigued for Wimbledon," said Chunky Jen.
On tap for Friday's semis are (3)Capriati vs. (2)Rubin in an all-American affair (Capriati leads 6-4), and Farina Elia vs. Martinez in a battle of 31-year-olds (Martinez leads 6-2).
At 's-Hertogenbosch, Belgians (1)Clijsters (d. Pisnik), and (2)Henin-Hardenne (d. Cervanova in three) took another step towards an all-Belgian final, and were joined in the semis by lucky loser Barbara Rittner (d. (6)Tulyaganova) and (5)Petrova (d. (4)Dementieva). "I wasn't sharp in the first set which is why I lost it," Henin-Hardenne, the defending champion, told Dutch television. "I played more aggressively after that, which fortunately was the right tactic." Fridays semis are (1)Clijsters vs. the No. 102-ranked Rittner (Clijsters leads 2-0), and (2)Henin-Hardenne vs. (5)Petrova (H-H leads 1-0).

TOUR NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
The USTA will deny 2003 NCAA Champion Amer Delic of Jacksonville, Fl., a wildcard at the US Open in September because he is not yet an American citizen; Delic plans to play pro events until January before deciding whether to return to Illinois for his senior year: "I've completed enough credit hours where I can skip the fall semester," Delic, a business/sports management major, told the Florida Times-Union. "I'm keeping my options open. To go out and play the pro tour, I need a lot of money. Financially, I know my parents can't do it. I'd have to play really well this summer and fall and get some sponsors."...In April, 2001, Delic and teammate Graydon Oliver, who now plays doubles with Jan-Michael Gambill, become the first Illinois duo to earn the nation's No. 1 NCAA doubles ranking...ATP CEO Mark Miles came out with a statement following the US Open's announcement of increased prize money, trying to spin the fact they got snubbed by the slams last month when they asked for increased contributions to ATP player funds: "The USTA's increase in this year's US Open prize money by $1 million is nearly twice the amount of the Open's average increases over the past few years. Many players view this as a constructive preliminary step and it confirms the importance of our on-going dialogue with the USTA regarding financial issues and other initiatives to grow the game."...American Brian Vahaly, who was seen practicing Thursday with Andy Roddick on site at Wimbledon, was featured in People Magazine's 25 Most Eligible Bachelor's issue on June 30, 2003. Vahlay was dubbed by Roddick as "the kind of guy you would want your sister to date."...In 2003, prize money on the ATP Tour decreased for the first time ever; in Paris the Grand Slam Committee deemed the ATP's demand for $50 million in increased compensation and promotional funds for the game to be outrageous, and instead chose to contribute zero...According to the Sun-Sentinel's Charlie Bricker, "the ATP at this point doesn't appear to have the money to replace Larry Scott, the chief operating officer who was earning an estimated $600,000. Scott, as you may know, has been hired as CEO of the women's tour, and Miles will dole Scott's duties out to existing employees." Nice, must have been important stuff...Jennifer Capriati has gone 24 tournaments without a title...How is Perry Rogers, long-time agent for Andre Agassi, involved in the ATP-USTA negotiations? He shills for Shaq on the side too, that guy is everywhere...Jelena "Someone Coach Me!" Dokic has lost seven times already in the first round this year: "I'm not going to use a sports psychologist, they are for people with problems in the head. If I knew what I was doing wrong I'd try to fix it." Problems in the head, sounds about right...According to Australia's The Age regarding Lleyton Hewitt's suit against the ATP, "Hewitt also alleged the ATP threatened to withdraw his wildcard entry at Key Biscayne, Florida, in March 1999, unless he undertook a medical examination he claimed was unnecessary. Hewitt also took offence over the ATP's choice of media outlets, arguing he was ordered by ATP vice-president of communications Matt Rapp to give a magazine interview that was "subsequently found to be inappropriate" for him."...Mark Philippoussis has enlisted former U.S. Navy and professional kickboxer Markus Heon to help strengthen his legs after three operations on his knee...New Andy Roddick coach Brad Gilbert will do some TV commentary for ESPN during the fortnight....Amelie Mauresmo is out of WIledon with a bad back. Other Wimbledon withdrawals thus far include Anna Kournikova, Monica Seles, Mariana Diaz-Olivia, Anne Kremer, Tatiana Panova, Sarah Taylor, Pete Sampras, Tommy Haas, Thomas Johansson, Goran Ivanisevic, Marcelo Rios, Richard Krajicek, Carlos Moya, and now Al Costa ("injury").