The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 18

BIO THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1999 STA Kafelnikov rise above the distractions Australian Open touched by steroid scandal, marred by disparaging remarks. MAN OF THE HOUR: Yevgeny Kafelnikov raises his championship trophy after winning the men's final at the Australian Open on Sun one except the small but vocal Swedish fans. The Swedes, painted and garbed in yellow and blue, bellowed and chanted and leaped up between every point, exhorting Thomas Enqvist down to the last miserable double fault on match point. Less than six months ago, Kafelnikov didn't think he could win another major. Now, after thanking Sampras publicly for not coming, Kafelnikov says he's ready to soar.

"There's a lot of different things that happened to me, to Just relieve pressure from my head," Kafelnikov said Sunday after beating Enqvist 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. 7-6 (7-1). The lanky Russian, who won the 1996 French Open, came back from the brink of retirement to win his second Grand Slam title, a feat he says is better the second time around because it dispels any notion he is a "one-Slam wonder." Kafelnikov is the hardest worker in tennis. He played 150 matches last year 27 more than nearest rival Pat Rafter and has played more matches than anybody else on the tour for four of the past five years. Late in 1998, Kafelnikov said he would start 1999 with Larry Ste-fanki, the former coach for world No.

2 Marcelo Rios and Jim Courier when he twice won the Australian. "He's a grinder," Stefankl said of Kafelnikov. "He's got a tough Russian heart." By Steve Wilstein ASSOCIATED PRESS MELBOURNE, Australia The Australian Open ended Its two-week run with the emergence of new talents and the resurgence of old ones. Martina Hingis claimed her third consecutive title and Yevgeny Kafelnikov grabbed a second Grand Slam trophy. But it was what went on outside the lines that defined the year's first major tennis tournament.

It was defending champion Petr Korda playing in defiance of his peers' calls for his banishment. It was 19-year-old Amelie Mau-resmo, France's talented potential champion, frankly discussing her lesbian relationship as no player has since Martina Navratilova. It was Hingis remarking on Mau-resmo's body and sexual orientation, then denying it though her comments in German were recorded on tape. Mauresmo. who beat No.

1 Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals, lost in the championship match but displayed poise under pressure and won admirers for her honesty and integrity. 'The tournament began with the fuss over Korda's drug case, players taking an unusually united stand in demanding that he be banned one year for testing positive for an anabolic steroid at Wimble- Associated Press ENJOYING THE MOMENT: Martina Hingis kisses her trophy while holding up three fingers after winning her third consecutive Australian Open women's championship on Saturday. day against Thomas Enq- vist of Sweden; 7-6(7-1). It was Kafelni- kov's second Grand Slam ti-r tie. twice the champion, said he was too tired to fly Down Under.

When Australia's favorite players, U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter and runner-up Mark Philip-poussis, lost early, a lot of the air went out of the event for the hometown fans. When Andre Agassi lost in an apathetic, if not pathetic, effort against American journeyman Vince Spadea in the fourth round, the last squeak of interest in the men's draw vanished for every don last year. Korda won leniency from an appeals panel, and came to Australia determined to defend his title. That case remains unresolved, though Korda won another round on the eve of the final.

A Judge in London ruled the International Tennis Federation cannot contest the appeals panel ruling. The ITF said it will appeal again, and Korda can keep playing In the meantime. The men's draw suffered from the start when No. 1 Pete Sampras, jf w-a C. Associated Press better get Swede not choked up over losing in final 1 raaco Enqvist says he played well and didn't feel any pressure as champ Kafelnikov charged.

AUTO PAINTING Free Estimates Nationwide Guarantee BODYWORKS Oven Baked Finish Expert Body Repair Clean sweep 1 No. 1 seed Kristlan Pless made a sweep at the Australian Open, beating Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-3 Sunday to win both the Junior boys slngleSj and doubles titles. On Saturday, Pless teamed with Austria's Juergen Melzer to win the doubles title 6-7 6-3, 6-0 over the Czech Republic's Ladislav; Chramosta and Michal Navratil. I Open confusion 1 SUPREME PAINT SERVICE Hurry! Limited Time Offer! AUSTRALIAN OPEN NOTEBOOK On the choking claim, Enqvist said, "That was not too nice to say. I've been playing, before this, 14 matches in Australia, and I've been winning them all; so I don't think that's a sign of choking." Enqvist was the first Swede to reach a Grand Slam final since Stefan Edberg lost at the 1993 Australian Open.

Anna's spice Anna Koumlkova left the Australian Open with her first Grand Slam title in the women's doubles with Martina Hingis. She shed a lot of sweat during the tournament, some of which was caught on the towels handed over by "court service attendants." One'towel boy said he received several offers for a discarded towel used by Kournlkova when she played with Hingis. The best offer was $63, but the boy declined. Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia Thomas Enqvist was happy, despite losing in the championship match of the Australian Open. "I felt great," he said Sunday.

"I showed everybody I was relaxed. I played the same kind of tennis I've been doing all week." Enqvist's 4-6. 6-0, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) loss to Yevgeny Kafelnikov ended a streak of 14 consecutive wins In Australia this year. The Swede, described as usually "ice cool," was a bit frosty when it was pointed out that Kafelnikov thought he hadn't tried hard enough and had a history of choking. "I had a lot of fun out there," Enqvist said.

"I was not nervous." 1 Virginle Razzano became the first French winner of the Australian Open girls Junior title-beating Slovakia's Katarana Basternakova 6-1 Sunday. Razzano, seeded 13th, overcame six double' faults and 27 unforced errors. Razzano was so excited after the win she confused the title that she had won. "It's Incredible," she said. "It's very difficult for.

me to realize that I have Just won the U.S. Open." SOUTH EAST WEST 3400 8. Madison Ave. 10501 E. Washington St 3115 Lafayette Rd.

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Martin is ranked 13th on the ATP Tour. Spadea, ranked 44th, upset Andre Agassi in Australia. "This is a nice way to complement the four players we had already announced," Davis said. In October, RCA officials announced that No. 1 Pete Sampras, No.

2 Marcelo Rios, No. 4 Patrick Rafter and No. 5 Carlos Moya had committed to play. Third-ranked Alex Corretja is the defending RCA champion and is expected to compete. The RCAs will be held the same week as an ATP Tour event in Washington, D.C.

Staff Report Australian Open finalist Thomas Enqvist has committed to play in the RCA Championships at the Indianapolis Tennis Center on Aug. 16-22, tournament director Rod Davis said Sunday. The unseeded Enqvist, playing in his first Grand Slam final, lost to Yevgeny Kafelnikov in four sets. Enqvist. who won the 1995 RCA title, pulled out of last year's tournament because of an ankle injury.

He was ranked 21st on the ATP Tour heading into the Australian Open. Davis also announced that Australian a- P23575R15 WARRANTY 1CAV 35,000 MILE EXTRA For all vehidei wfiti independent suspeniion and from wheel drive Thomas Enqvist of Sweden will aim for his second RCA title. Kir kw Mast cars and light trucks Not valid wW TIHE; rrt P18570R14 P19570R14 P20570R14 P21570R14 P20570R15 P21570R15 We'll do a FREE brake Inspection of your vehicle brakes. oft any $100 or more brake tervfes Court Us Now In Session! mm 45,000 MILE WARRANTY PfT 3 i ljr I Pacers on any $50 or more brake service no uoiigaiioft Most cars and Kft trucks. Not valid with I P17565R14 P18565R14 P19565R14 P19565R15 P18560SR14 P19560SR14 P19560SR15 DincfcnOD-te other offer mm m.

1 EA. The lights are back on again at MSA, and Boomer is lacing on his shoes. And before you know it, the NBA season will finally tip-off. That's right! Your Indiana Pacers are back on the court, and The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News are Where To Turn to read about all the much-anticipated action and highlights the 1999 season promises. inirrrcni rGPZCIALr am Mkxrro A YrmD 45,000 MILE WARRANTY It's the biggest game in town.

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