Norman - back from the brink, and how ...

By S. Dinakar

CHENNAI, DEC. 29. ``When I was in hospital, lying on the bed, awaiting heart surgery, the whole world changed for me. They told me that if the operation went wrong, I might never be able to play tennis again. 1997 was my breakthrough year on the Tour and it was a shattering thought. Negative thoughts crept in, but I saw the positive side. I wanted to get back, play tennis again. But then, in that situation, your whole life becomes a bonus. I did look at life differently. Yes, the experience changed me. I think it made me stronger.''

Magnus Norman was speaking exclusively to The Hindu in Chennai on Friday about the five-hour heart surgery he underwent in 1997 at Gothenburg to correct an irregular beat.

Yes, his has to be one of the bravest sporting tales of the millennium. When Norman, reached the quarterfinals of the 1997 French Open, ambushing the great Pete Sampras along the way, and then made it to the last 16 of the Wimbledon, scalping the dangerous Goran Ivanisevic in the process, he was looked upon as the next Swedish superstar.

An unseen enemy threatened to consume him though. Norman suffered from bouts of exhaustion during the matches due a faulty valve in the heart, and there was a huge question mark over his career.

Forced to take a break from the circuit, he underwent a heart surgery in Gothenburg, and ... it was a success.

After going through the recovery period, the Swede not just scripted a comeback, but went on to become the World No. 1 under the new ranking system in 2000, before Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, upstaged him.

Now, the 24-year-old Swede from Filipstad is back in Chennai to compete in a tournament in which he last played as a journeyman in 1997. This time, however, Norman returns as the No. 1 star.

``This is what I have been striving for all my life - to be a top tennis player,'' revealed Norman, who arrived in the city in the early hours of Friday.

``I love it here in Chennai. The courts are good, the atmosphere is great, and I am looking forward to playing in the Gold Flake Open. It's the first tournament of the year, looking forward to it, but slightly nervous.'' he said. He was happy with the current ranking system.

And the tournament top-seed had a knock with the defending champion, France's Jerome Golmard, on one of the outside courts at the Nungambakkam Stadium in the afternoon. His only complaint? ``It's too humid.''

Memorable year

The year 2000 was a memorable one for him; he was a semifinalist at the Australian Open and fell only at the last hurdle at the Roland Garros, when Kuerten subdued him in a stirring duel. ``I fought hard but it was not my day. Becoming a Grand Slam champion is my burning ambition really. I will go for it this year.''

The one aspect of his play he has worked on is his volley. ``To succeed at the highest level, I think the volley is an important weapon. I am sharpening it now.'' Norman's strength over the years has been his big serve, exceptional court coverage and booming groundstrokes.

He wants to become more aggressive on the court too - Norman has been dubbed too `soft' on the court by a few critics, someone who did not believe enough in his own ability. ``It is very tough at the top, especially in the top ten, and I have to take my chances. I think I am more aggressive these days.''

And, yes, he receives timely tips from Swedish icon Stefan Edberg, Norman's idol as he grew up. ``I meet him from time to time and it's always such a pleasure talking to him. He is happy at my success.''

Norman, currently fourth on the ATP Champions race, regards the win over Australia's Lleyton Hewitt at the Italian Open in Rome as his best moment yet. ``I became the World No. 1 after that victory and it was a very special occasion.''

Being part of the Swedish Davis Cup squad means a lot to this genial man, extremely conscious of Sweden's rich history in the game and the competition. ``We love the atmosphere of the Davis Cup. It's incredible. There is a feeling of togetherness. Even on the Tour, we stay together, try to help each other out.''

Asked who is the inspiration in his life, Norman quickly points to his mother Lena. ``When I had the heart surgery, she was the one who was my source of strength. She herself had a heart problem in her younger days, and provided me with hope. I can never forget that.''

The handsome 6'2'' star has come to Chennai with his girlfriend Asa Johansson, a supermodel, and doesn't yet have any plans for the new year's eve. ``I am sure it will be memorable.''

About the rumours of his romance with Swiss superstar Martina Hingis, Norman says, ``Yes, we got to know each other well, but then we are both players, and it is so difficult to meet. She travels all the time to compete, I do the same.''

Norman is a keen diarist too. ``I note down a lot of things. Details of my matches, my opponents, the places I go to, and my personal life also. One day I will probably write my book, my autobiography.''

The striking thing about Norman is that he has hardly changed with success - the endearing smile is still firmly in place, so is his easy demeanour. No trappings of a celebrity here.

Golmard, acknowledged this, too, after he shook hands with Norman following the practice session. ``A nice bloke,'' the Frenchman said.

Golmard made a great start to 2000 by winning the Chennai event, but the dashing player's surge was halted by the re-occurrence of a lower back injury. ``This has been my biggest problem. I play well, and then this injury comes.''

Still, Golmard had his moments during the year, like eliminating Andre Agassi in Toronto, a victory that meant so much to him in terms of regaining lost confidence.

He is happy at the health of French tennis with several young, talented players coming through. ``Very hard to stay in the Davis Cup team,'' he remarks in a lighter vein.

The swashbuckler from Dijon, a small town in France, denied there was any pressure on him as the defending champion and promised to play attacking tennis like he always does.

Will Golmard come face to face with Norman at some stage of the tournament? It should be exhilarating if that happens.

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