British Government to the rescue of the game

LONDON, JULY 4. British tennis is so bad that the Government is stepping in with plans to improve things. Fred Perry was the last British man to win Wimbledon in 65 years, and the last woman champion was Virginia Wade in 1977.

Britain's new Sports Minister Richard Caborn is promising about 800,000 Pounds in new funding for state and private schools to promote the game.

``There are 140,000 youngsters playing competitively in France and only 18,000 here,'' he said. ``If we don't build the base you don't get the success.''

Richard Williams, the father of Serena and defending Wimbledon champion Venus, has criticised British tennis authorities for doing little to break the elite image of the game in Britain and attract players from `the other side of the tracks.'

Caborn is also aware of the image problem. ``I think the Lawn Tennis Association is now addressing some of those issues,'' Caborn said, speaking of the governing body of British tennis.

``Partnerships like these give pupils from both sectors the chance to take advantage of different and better facilities. That can only be good for the future health of our sporting nation.''

Wheelchair Wimbledon

Wheelchair tennis players will get their first chance on Saturday to play at Wimbledon. Four of Britain's top players will give a demonstration on Saturday on court 14, one of the outside courts at the All England club. Britain has six of the top 20 players in the World rankings.

Serena's `worst' list

Serena Williams may have a career in fashion after tennis and is carrying a sketchbook around the All England Club grounds, as she works on compiling a `worst dressed' list.

``I see a lot of people with style here but off court I am a critic,'' said the 19-year-old American. ``I see them and think, oh, wrong shoes or something like that. I know they're out there trying but they're not doing it right. Maybe if your body type isn't right for certain dresses, maybe you shouldn't wear them. I think I would make a good fashion stylist, telling people what to wear, what not to wear. I'd do a good job.

Serena also said she's bought her dress for the Wimbledon champions ball on Sunday and describes it as more funky, more trendy than the one she wore last year.

From Russia with love

Tennis is growing in Russia, according to U.S. Open champion Marat Safin, who reached the quarterfinals by beating Arnaud Clement 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.

``We are doing well because we finally have the possibilities to play, the facilities to practice in Russia,'' he said.

``We have coaches, balls, rackets. We can do whatever we want and it is great. Once the players had no money for them at all, no racket contracts. We had to play with rackets we didn't like and that is very hard to do.''

``Then Yevgeny Kafelnikov won the French Open in Paris and it changed everything in Russia. Everybody started playing tennis. Everybody enjoyed it and the money was there.'' Safin, by the way, lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

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