Hewitt Ready for MS-Indian Wells Defense; Rusedski Cleared of Doping

Posted on March 11, 2004

Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt begins his quest for a third straight Masters Series-Indian Wells title when play kicks off this Friday in the California desert with the men's half of the Pacific Life Open. The No. 9-ranked Hewitt boldly predicted a return to the top spot on the ATP Rankings in 2004, and has come out with his game face early in the year, including a 14-1 record and two titles.

Hewitt is not the only former No. 1 with a hot hand after two months of play, and will compete on the hardcourts against fast starters Roger Federer (16-1), Carlos Moya (18-3), Andy Roddick (17-4), Gustavo Kuerten (14-4), Juan Carlos Ferrero (9-4), Andre Agassi (8-2) and Marat Safin (7-4).

Last week Federer widened the gap between himself and the No. 1-chasers with his second title of the year at Doha, following up on his Australian Open victory. It was only three months ago that the Swiss was edged for the year-end No. 1 ranking by Roddick, but from his play early this year it looks like Federer intends to avoid last year's tight race, where four players (Roddick, Ferrero, Federer, and Guillermo Coria) were still in the running for the coveted year-end top spot as late as October.

Hewitt finished in the year-end top spot in 2001-2002 before last year thinning his schedule after a fallout with the ATP, which fined him for blowing off an interview with a host television broadcaster, with Hewitt then counter-suing the ATP. But now the Aussie seems to have his off-court life in the balance, with an impending marriage to WTA star Kim Clijsters, and a renewed fire in his tenacious baseline game.

The Indian Wells men's draw will be made later today.

Rusedski Cleared of ATP Doping Charges

The BBC reported today that Greg Rusedski has been cleared of his drug doping charges, even though he tested positive for faint traces of nandrolone. The drug tribunal ruled that the fault was with the ATP, and the residual traces of nandrolone were the result of the ATP trainers inadvertently handing out the drugs contained in supplements.

The ATP announced today an expansion of its efforts to identify the cause of the low levels of nandrolone in anti-doping test samples. Two new experts have agreed to join the ATP investigation to determine the cause of low-level nandrolone in test results, and the ATP also will ask the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to name a third member of the group.

"As was the situation with the seven previous low-level nandrolone doping cases last summer, it is our responsibility to process each and every doping case," ATP CEO Mark Miles said in a statement released to the media this morning. "The Rusedski tribunal concluded that he should have received personal notification of the risk of taking an electrolyte supplement previously distributed by ATP trainers, and that the ATP notices posted in the player newsletters, player intranet website and locker rooms were not adequate. We respect the authority and independence of the tribunal and are satisfied that the process was conducted fairly."

WTA INDIAN WELLS PREVIEW: Clijsters to Attempt Title Defense

Only 13 of the Top 20 WTA players will feature beginning today when main draw play begins at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, an indication of the rash of injuries debilitating the women's ranks in 2004.

The Top 16 seeds in the women's draw are Justine Henin-Hardenne, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Anastasia Myskina, Chandra Rubin, Vera Zvonareva, Nadia Petrova, Paola Suarez, Jelena Dokic, Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, Conchita Martinez, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maggie Malleva, Francesca Sciavone, Fabiola Zuluaga, and Maria Sharapova.

The 32 seeds receive first round byes, so not many surprises in the early rounds, but unseeded floaters in the draw include American Amy "Joltin' Joe" Frazier (possible vs. (13)Malleva second round), former French Open winner Iva Majoli (possible vs. (22)Alicia Molik second round), Alexandra "Dr. A" Stevenson (possible vs. (17)Magui "Don't Call Me Maggie" Serna second round), French 16-year-old phenom Tatiana Golovin (possible vs. (8)Suarez second round), and Hungarian comer Aniko Kapros (possible vs. (15)Zuluaga second round).

Potential quarterfinal Tennis-X match-up predictions are (1)H-H vs. (5)Rubin, (4)Myskina vs. (18)Raymond, (3)Davenport vs. (9)Dokic, and (2)Clijsters vs. (6)Zvonareva. No Williams sisters in the field, last seen in 2001 when they were booed off the stadium court, and have not been seen since in these parts. In last year's final, (1)Clijsters d. (4)Davenport 6-4, 7-5.

Today's matches on day one feature Gagliardi vs. Benesova, Granville vs. Tanasugarn, Czink vs. Majoli, Stevenson vs. Karatancheva, Leon Garcia vs. Panova, Kleibanova vs. Kostanic, Diaz-Oliva vs. Morigami, Chladkova vs. Brandi, Golovin vs. Asagoe, Kapros vs. Nagyova, Ondraskova vs. Mikaelian, Schaul vs. Jankovic, Garbin vs. Santangelo, Cohen-Aloro vs. Camerin, and Kirilenko vs. Kurhajcova. For those of you with day one passes -- we feel for you.

Upset winners in the 48-draw women's qualifying at Indian Wells through Tuesday were Germany's Angelika Roesch (d. (16)Drake), Austria's Sybille "The Whammer" Bammer (d. (23)Pin), American Melissa Irvin (d. (6)Jugic-Salkic), No. 844-ranked wildcard American Christina Fusano (d. (21)Tu), Czech Renata Voracova (d. (20)Ashley), No. 949-ranked wildcard American Anne Yelsey (d. (17)Ad. Serra Zanetti), American Julie Ditty (d. (11)Snyder), and American veteran Lilia Osterloh (d. (19)Castano).

ATP MS-INDIAN WELLS ALL-TIME TOP 10
Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt holds the all-time top win-loss percentage at the Masters Series-Indian Wells, edging a slew of former No. 1s (since the inception of the Masters Series in 1990, stats through 2003, min. 20 matches, active players in bold):

1. Hewitt, Lleyton (AUS) 18-4 .818
2. Edberg, Stefan (SWE) 16-5 .762
3. Chang, Michael (USA) 25-9 .735
4. Sampras, Pete (USA) 27-10 .730
5. Philippoussis, Mark (AUS) 15-6 .714
6. Courier, Jim (USA) 21-9 .700
7. Kuerten, Gustavo (BRA) 14-6 .700
8. Agassi, Andre (USA) 23-11 .676
9. Rios, Marcelo (CHI) 16-8 .667
10. Martin, Todd (USA) 15-8 .652

NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
The BBC is reporting that Greg Rusedski has been cleared of his doping offense, another blow to the ATP, another out-of-court settlement?...Tim Henman is back in the Top 10 on the ATP Rankings this week...In winning Scottsdale last week, Vince Spadea defeated two former slam champs in Thomas Johansson (Aussie Open) and Andy Roddick (US Open)...The Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas may be forced to close its doors in 90 days after an investigation found the school was breaking several state laws, with a revolving door of teachers in several elementary classes...Chanda Rubin has pulled from Indian Wells with inflammation in her left knee; also add to the list Goran Ivanisevic (back) and David Nalbandian (ankle)...Gustavo Kuerten says he won't play Davis Cup for Brazil next month because he is angry at a captaincy change and the national tennis federation's lack of player development, according to the AP. The players "were not consulted on the venue or the change of captains," Kuerten said on his Web site. "When we win, we players are praised. When we lose, as we did against Canada last year, we take the blame. I have Davis (Cup) in the blood, had great moments competing...and I am sad to leave."...Andre Agassi won't defend his title on the red clay at Houston next month, and apparently won't play any red clay events besides the French Open, a pretty smart move for the old man.