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Entry system ranking: 143 (282 points (-1)) Champions Race: 126 (7 points)(-3) Current tournament: Place: Monte Carlo, Monaco Next tournament:
Place: Munich, Germany
Date: April 29 - May 5, 2002 Draw Size: 32 Surface: Clay Prize Money: US $381,000 Stadium Court Seating: 3,800 Tournament Director: Rudi Berger Website: www.iphitos.de
Thanks Ivanna for the photo! (Norman in Bueno Aires)
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Magnus Norman, the
big-hearted Swede Norman is yet to win a Grand Slam title, and it hurts him. "That's one target I have set for myself this year in addition to staying fit and playing well," he said today in a chat with the scribes at the Gold Flake Open. Having come so close to the title last summer at Roland Garros, when he lost to Gustavo Kuerten, Norman still thinks his best chance would again be on the slow red clay courts. Most tennis player grow up idolising some star or the other. And for Norman, it was a tougher choice to make since Swedes produced almost an assembly line of them in the eighties. But Norman belongs to the new generation and Bjorn Borg was too ancient to idolise. Stefan Edberg had more appeal and sure enough the flamboyant Monte Carlo resident decided he was better to emulate. And, today, when Norman talks of coming anywhere close to what Edberg achieved, he is aware there's still a lot of scope for improvement. Despite possessing a serve which can cause as much damage as a cannon ball, Norman knows his volleys are nowhere as good as the ones which Edberg executed with the backhand. "You could say that's one reason why I am going to play more doubles this year," said Norman. "I think doubles does a lot of good to your serve and volley game and this is one aspect which I need to work on," says Norman. Most professionals get a lot of hype, especially when they come for the Gold Flake Open. But Norman doesn't really like wearing the 'favourite' tag around his neck. "I am aware of the history of how big players have done here," he said, a remark which did not smack of sarcasm. "I had a pretty good year (2000) and would be glad to get a nice start again. But if you guys are asking me whether I am going to win the title or not, I cannot answer. I have to take it day by day. Today the depth in tennis is such anything can happen," says Norman. "I honestly feel there are at least 20 people today who are capable of finishing as No.1." Who could they be? "(Marat) Safin, (Gustavo) Kuerten, myself, and (Lleyton) Hewitt," he shot back even before the question was completed. Yet, for a man who was wheeled into the operation theatre for a major heart surgery in 1997, this is almost like a second life. "The docs told me there was a possibility if the operation did not click I would never play tennis again. But here I am," said Norman happily. Talk of heart, this man sure has a big one. He loves thrills and that's one reason why he even owns a race horse. And off-court, if there are any awards for most romantic men on the Tour, Norman could win it with ease. His romance with Swiss Miss Martina Hingis was the talking point at last Wimbledon. And in a matter of months he decided that long distance love affairs do not work. "Hingis and I are still good friend and we speak occasionally," says Norman. Today, if women in Chennai fall for Norman, there are an equal number ready to fall in love with his girlfriend Asa Johansson, a ravishing Swedish model. What about marriage? "I haven't yet thought about it," said Norman
with a glint in his eyes. He knows there's a lot in store for him, on and off
the court. |
