The Hindu : Serena and Venus heading to Africa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Serena and Venus heading to Africa

WIMBLEDON JUNE 25. Serena says plans call for a trip in the next year or so to South Africa, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

``I hear people of my race say that going there is an awakening experience,'' Serena said. ``They just felt at home and in a connection. I have been desperate to go there and I have an opportunity to feel and see my history. You don't know yourself until you know your history.''

Asked by an African reporter at Wimbledon if she knew her roots, Serena replied: ``Unfortunately we don't. It's pretty sad.''

BON APETIT: Nobody will starve at Wimbledon. Here's a guess from officials about what will be consumed during the fortnight: 30,000 portions of fish and chips; 22,000 slices of pizza; 27,000 kilos (60,000 pounds) of strawberries; 7,000 liters (30,000 gallons) of cream; 12,000 kilos (26,000 pounds) of salmon; 12,500 bottles of champagne; 90,000 pints of beer — Burp.

WORST CHAMPION: Ted Schroeder, the 1949 Wimbledon champion, has been critical of Lleyton Hewitt's tennis game.

``Hewitt many not be the worst-ever Wimbledon champion but he is certainly the dumbest,'' said Schroeder, 82. ``He has no idea how to get out of a scrape or change his tactics to suit the conditions.

``He just continues to hit the ball as hard as he can. And what can be more dumb than that?''

Hewitt was ousted from the first round of the tournament by unseeded 6-10 (2.08 meters) Ivo Karlovic. The Aussie is only the second defending men's champion to lose in the first round.

0-FOR-5: Britain had five women playing in the first round — and all five lost. The men were slightly better — three of 10 survived.

``We're not good enough,'' said David Felgate, the former coach of Tim Henman who now is the tennis directory for the Lawn Tennis Association.

— AP

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