When Jelena Dokic was defeated in the first round of the 2000 Australian Open by Hungarian, Rita Kuti Kis, she suggested she had been beaten by someone who "was not a player". In light of this suggestion, every issue Cameron Bennett will compare the form of the two players to find out once and for all, who is the PLAYER and who is the PAUPER.
Novo's two favourite players continue having extreme success on the WTA Tour...
THE PLAYER
Image Courtesy: The
Women of Tennis
While she only played one match this month, a loss in Toronto to Sabine Appelmans 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, the Player was in the news for two reasons - one controversial, the other admirable.
On August 1, AP reported that Dokic said that she wanted to play at the Olympics "providing organisers meet her list of demands." Eventually, the Australian Olympic Committee met Dokic half-way:
- Dokic is allowed to live at home during the games instead of the in the
Olympic Village - but she has to take care of all her own transport and
security precautions;
- While Dokic wanted her usual coach - father Damir - to look after her at
the Games, the AOC made it clear that while he may be her hitting partner,
Lesley Bowrey and Tony Roche are the only two coaches for Australians at the
Games;
- She must wear official Olympic uniforms, even though they are not
manufactured by her personal sponsor;
- And she does not have to march in the Closing Ceremony, as she wants to play in the Tokyo tournament the following day.
Dokic will play singles, and will partner Rennae Stubbs in the doubles in Sydney.
On a more admirable note, readers of The Player and the Pauper will be pleased to hear that Dokic underwent 'mole-removal surgery', more commonly known as MRS, with the aim of earning more endorsements in the future.
As she didn't win any matches this month, Dokic stayed fairly stable in the rankings - she still has 783 ranking points, but has dropped two places to number 39 in the World.
the pauper
Once again, the pauper's on court success equaled that of the player this month, as she did not manage to win a match.
On 18 July, 5th seed Kuti Kis lost to Belgian Els Callens in the first round of the Sanex Trophy 2-6, 6-7. Six days later, at the Bank of the West Tennis Classic at Stanford, Kuti Kis backed up well, going down to American Kristina Brandi 0-6, 3-6 in the first round.
Novo did not receive a reply from Hungarian Olympic authorities regarding the pauper's actions during the Sydney Games.
Kuti Kis has 611 ranking points, almost 50 fewer than last month, and her ranking has once again slipped from the top 50, to number 56.
