The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Capriati faces charges for attacking ex-boyfriend
- Chong Wei stumbles
- Baun becomes the oldest winner at All-England
| Capriati faces charges for attacking ex-boyfriend Posted: 10 Mar 2013 06:45 PM PDT MIAMI: Former tennis World No. 1 Jennifer Capriati is facing battery charges and possible arrest after being accused of stalking and punching an ex-boyfriend on Valentine's Day. Capriati, a three-time Grand Slam champion who won 14 titles and earned gold at the 1992 Olympics, had an altercation with Ivan Brannan at the Oxygen Health & Wellness gym in North Palm Beach, Florida on February 14, the local police department said. While Brannan was working out, Capriati, 36, "started screaming" at him before punching him "with a closed fist four times in the chest," a police report said. A yoga instructor then stopped the former tennis pro from continuing to punch Brannan and the 28-year-old managed to lock himself in the men's locker room and call 911. Brannan, a former Florida State University golfer, had red marks on his chest from the incident, according to the police report. While filling out an affidavit, "his hands were physically shaking," it added. "It was very apparent that he was in fear of physical harm." Brannan, who dated Capriati from May 2011 to February 2012, told police that Capriati began harassing and stalking him shortly after the couple broke up. He also later brought officers documentation of seven other altercations with the former tennis pro. The North Palm Beach Police Department in Florida subsequently requested an arrest warrant for Capriati, though it has not yet been issued by the court, a spokeswoman told AFP on Sunday. A publicist for Capriati issued a statement on Friday stressing that the case "has not yet been assigned in Palm Beach County and has not been reviewed." "The current facts being circulated by Mr Brannan are an over-exaggeration and the police report is one-sided in Mr Brannan's favor since they failed to get Ms Capriati's side of the story," Natalie Mikolich said in a statement cited by US media. Capriati also took to Twitter herself to defend her behavior. "I pushed a man that was verbally assaulting me away from me. This man has been tormenting and abusing me for so long. The truth will prevail," she wrote. And on Sunday, she added: "These lies and turmoil are only happening because of this man!Look at what he has done to the MOTHER of his own son not just me!!" Brannan's ex-fiancee, cooking show contestant Christine Corley, then wrote back: "He is doing the same thing to you as he did to me!!" and "I feel your pain!" Capriati was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last year. But her career was overshadowed by personal problems, including incidents of shoplifting and drugs, and she struggled with weight problems. She was charged with cannabis possession in 1994 and spent time in a drug rehabilitation clinic before struggling to return to the game. In 2010, she survived a suspected suicide attempt following a prescription drug overdose. Capriati reached the finals in two of her first three WTA events as a rookie in 1990 and won her first tour title at Puerto Rico. Two years later, she defeated Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the Barcelona Olympic women's final. After a hiatus during most of the span between 1994 and 1998, Capriati staged a successful comeback starting in 1999. She helped lead the US Fed Cup team to the title in 2000 and became World No. 1 in October 2001, staying on top for 18 weeks. Capriati won the 2001 and 2002 Australian Open titles and the 2001 French Open. In her second Australian triumph, she rallied from 6-4, 4-0 down to defeat Martina Hingis in the final, saving four match points. Capriati retired for good in 2004 with a 430-176 record and 14 career singles crowns.-AFP |
| Posted: 10 Mar 2013 04:51 PM PDT WORLD No. 1 Lee Chong Wei was angry with himself yesterday after losing an opportunity to win the All-England for the third time at the National Indoor Arena. The 30-year-old Chong Wei lost his spark, losing 21-17, 21-18 to Chen Long of China in a highly-charged men's singles final. It was the 24-year-old Chen Long's sixth win in 13 meetings over the Malaysian. "I made too many mistakes today, especially in the early part of the game. I am angry with myself right now," said a disappointed Chong Wei, who also lost last year's final against Lin Dan after withdrawing with a shoulder injury. "But this is not the end. I am going to try and get back at Chen Long. I want to get even with him. "He showed great determination to win his first All-England title and credit should be given to him for a good performance," he added. Things started to go wrong for Chong Wei, the 2010 and 2011 champion, in the opening game. He dropped seven points from a string of poor judgments and weak returns. Then, he started his fightback but it came too late as Chen Long marched on with his ferocious attacking mode to take the opener. The second game was a sizzler. Chong Wei trailed again but not by a big gap. He kept on pressing to level at 14-14. It was a neck-and-neck fight from there on as both tried their best to outplay each other. Chen Long, however, was just a notch better in his attacking game to romp home for his first All-England title. He celebrated like his senior Lin Dan by taking off his T-shirt. "I was just so frustrated as he kept on retrieving my shots. It was hard to kill his shots too," he lamented. Chong Wei agreed that Chen Long is now a new threat in his dream to become the world champion at the World Championships in Guangzhou in August. "Lin Dan is not the only rival for me. Chen Long is young and aggressive and he seems to be improving day by day," said Chong Wei. "I won the South Korea and Malaysian Opens and reached another final here. I want to keep the momentum going and continue to raise my game," he added. |
| Baun becomes the oldest winner at All-England Posted: 10 Mar 2013 04:51 PM PDT DENMARK'S Tine Baun sank on her knees in sheer jubilation at the All-England here yesterday after winning the women's singles crown for the third time in her illustrious career. The 33-year-old Dane, playing in her last tournament, showed steely determination to beat three-time world junior champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-14, 16-21, 21-10 in 53 minutes to become the oldest All-England women's singles champion of the Open era. Baun's win shattered Ratchanok's hopes of becoming the youngest ever player to win the All-England title at the age of 18. She would have beaten legendary eight-time All-England champion Rudy Hartono by a few months. Baun, the winner here in 2008 and 2010, was simply ecstatic. "This is a great way to end my career. I am happy that I decided to close the door on my career here in my favourite tournament," she said. "It is the same great feeling – winning in 2008 and now. Everyone has been kind and I feel so proud. And I absolutely love my fans here," she added. |
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