Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Interview with Jon Wertheim

Aired July 01, 2002 - 09:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Virtually all of the top-ranked men are "Wimble-Done," (ph), so the eyes of the tennis world -- sorry -- it seems, are turning to the women of Wimbledon.

CNN's Diana Muriel is in London with the very latest on that -- good morning, Diana.

DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. Yes, it is the start of the second week of Wimbledon here in London, and no American male players left in the tournament. The weather has turned as well this week. It has been raining all morning, it is just holding off at the moment, but it is very windy, and that's affecting play. That hasn't deterred the fans, though. They queued through the night, more than 1,000 people queuing through the night to get hold of those valuable return tickets and they've been struggling to get into the show courts around the main court, Centre Court, and court number one.

There was a record attendance, 244,740 people attended Wimbledon in the first week. We will see whether we can break that record in the second week.

Now, the second week is starting off with Tim Henman, the great British hope for the Wimbledon Championship. He arrived at Wimbledon just a few hours ago. He started his match on the -- on court number one against the Swiss player, Michel Kratochvil. They haven't broken -- managed to break each other's service games yet. They are still slugging it out there. That looks set to be, maybe, a five-set match there.

The other main player that -- at least the British audiences will be watching is Greg Rusedski. He also arrived at Wimbledon this afternoon, ahead of his match with Xavier Malisse who he will be meeting on Centre Court later on in the day.

Now, I'm joined here by the Jon Wertheim, he is the tennis correspondent for "Sports Illustrated." Jon, no U.S. male players left at the Wimbledon Championship. What happened?

JON WERTHEIM, TENNIS CORRESPONDENT, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": Well, eight times since 1992, an American male has actually won this tournament. Here we are, the second Monday, none left. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, two of the favorites. They are both sort of in the twilights of their career. They both lost early, and this next generation, Andy Roddick, James Blake, who people sort of touted to come along, they both lost early as well. So here we are, no Americans in the fourth round for the first time since 1922.

MURIEL: So, what's the problem?

WERTHEIM: Well, I think grass is part of the problem. No one in America plays regularly on grass, and you sort of get these flukey results, but I also think we were sort of spoiled with Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. It is going to take a while for another generation like that to come along.

MURIEL: Now, the women are playing rather better. We have had Venus Williams out there this morning. She has defeated Lisa Raymond in straight sets. She took the first set in just 18 minutes. She is looking very powerful, and her sister too. So, better hope for the Americans with the women.

WERTHEIM: Absolutely. The one player who probably stands the best chance of beating either of them, Jennifer Capriati, is an American as well. Maybe they will make up on the women's side.

MURIEL: Do you think that Venus Williams will be able to maintain her championship record? She, of course, is the reigning champion, and, again, in 2000, she was the winner here too.

WERTHEIM: Right. I think we are looking at what we call a three-peat. I think she is the player to beat right now.

MURIEL: As far as the men's tennis is concerned then, the British hopes are riding high with Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski. Do you think we might see a British male player in the final at Wimbledon this year?

WERTHEIM: Oh, boy. The country would go crazy if it happened, as you know. I think -- ironically, I think Rusedski might be a better chance than Henman, who plays Lleyton Hewitt, a very tough opponent, a top seed.

I think if it is either of the two, I think it might be Rusedski.

MURIEL: Well, that is the latest of Wimbledon, Paula. We wait to see what happens to the British hopes, but American hopes in the men's tennis, I am afraid, they are all over -- back to you.

ZAHN: So the weather is holding up OK, it looks like there from the picture today.

MURIEL: That's right. It is extremely windy. And I know that Tim Henman, just before he went on to his match today was remarking that he was concerned about the wind conditions. It's very, very powerful on the Centre Court and court number one, so that will be affecting play, but it is not raining, not yet. But before the end of Wimbledon, I am sure it will rain. It always does.

ZAHN: All right. We will keep our fingers crossed for you. Thank you both. Appreciate those live updates. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com