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CNN Sunday Morning
Women's Tennis More Popular Than Men's
Aired September 09, 2001 - 07:21 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Venus Williams has won her second straight U.S. Open title and she did it by dominating her sister Serena. Venus needed just an hour and nine minutes to beat Serena, 6/2, 6/4, last night in New York. But it was a bittersweet victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERENA WILLIAMS, U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S RUNNER-UP: She said she didn't feel like she really won because she was -- she always wanted, you know, kind of protect me. And I told her, 'Well, you won. Take it. And it's your win, your victory. If I would have won, I won but you won and you know, you need it. You know, it was yours so don't feel that way because honestly, you don't -- there's not enough time in one's life -- because time is so -- it happens so fast.'
VENUS WILLIAMS, U.S OPEN WOMEN'S CHAMPION: We -- I just hate to see Serena losing anyway even at -- against me. So I think that's the harder part. I think for anything it would be easier for her to beat me than I maybe be, I don't know, happier. It's kind of strange. When you're the big sister, you're looking to take care of the younger one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: It was the first time in 117 years that sisters have played each other in a Grand Slam tennis final.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, women's tennis sure has been sizzling hot. I mean that final played in prime time for the first time for women's tennis. But the fans are a little bit lukewarm about the men's side of the field.
SAVIDGE: What's up with the guys? Now, the sport is looking for a boost. CNN's Sports Illustrated's Laura Okmin has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAURA OKMIN, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT: They're some of the most recognizable faces in sports -- Martina, Venus, Serena, Jennifer, Lindsey and of course, Anna. But who's this top five player? Or this? Or this? This, in a nutshell, is the problem with men's tennis today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, I would have to give the edge to the women's side.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No offense against the men's or anything, the women's -- I -- there's more rallies. And I just think it's a little bit more exciting.
OKMIN: In a sport where, to paraphrase Andre Agassi, image does seem to be everything, the men are suffering compared to the women's side, where the talents and temperaments of a dynamic and diverse cast of characters have enhanced public interest. Even some of the men's biggest supporters acknowledge their game needs a boost.
PATRICK MCENROE, U.S. DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN: Sampras and Agassi have been there for so long. They've been so good but look; the American public relates more to younger players that are American.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are guys that have been on the tour now for 12, 13, 14 years and eventually, you do need some new blood to keep the fans interested.
MARAT SAFIN, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: It's not important for us for it to be. It's to promote us. It's the young players because they -- everybody knows Agassi and Sampras. They don't know the rest of the people. The thing of ATP, they have to -- they have to think about this.
OKMIN: Over the past year, the men's ATP tour has been working to do just that, implementing a new point system and a clever ad campaign to highlight emerging players.
MCENROE: You do need new personalities to draw people in. And I think that the tour has actually been doing a pretty decent job. And ultimately, it's up to the players themselves to do what Marat did, win the U.S. Open, be funny when you do it or have some kind of distinct character trait.
TAYLOR DENT, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: I think the general public, I don't want to say, is tired but you know, would like to see some new American blood.
OKMIN: Old American blood still draws a crowd and can put on a tremendous show as evident by Wednesday's epic quarterfinal match up between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.
But the new blood America is most counting on belongs to a 19- year-old rising U.S. star, Andy Roddick.
ANDY RODDICK, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: There are lots of good players, American and not American young guys coming up right now. And I think that makes for some interesting match ups, you know, to get some of the older guys versus some of the younger guys. And I think it makes it fun right now.
MCENROE: We're all competing with other sports and other entertainment vehicles that are out there. And Ron has got the hair -- you know, the cap backwards and he's playing rap music. This is fun. I mean, this is what these guys bring, you know, that type of environment and that's good, because tennis needs that.
ANDRE AGASSI, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: Many of the guys getting attention are getting attention because of their game on the court and that's the part that's pretty clear to me. You know, you see all these guys bring in a certain amount of dynamics and enthusiasm and talent to the game.
DENT: We're all fiery personalities. We're all, you know, not scared to show emotion out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm only trying to win matches and -- but you know, on the side, if you can do some little things to get young people coming out and watching, it's great.
OKMIN: This week, the Grand Slam circuit said goodbye to the engaging Australian Patrick Rafter, who at just 28 bowed out of the U.S. Open and began a walkabout, which he says might be permanent.
PATRICK RAFTER, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: There's some new things that I want to do. I just want to step back and see what life is and other things. Time to step into reality a little bit.
OKMIN: For men's tennis, the reality for now seems to be a second place finish behind a women's movement that has successfully made over the face of the game.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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