Columnist Dean Juipe: Andre says European trip a blast

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, June 29, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebookappears Thursday. Reach him at 259-4084 or juipe@lasvegassun.com

Dear Dean:

This trip to Europe has turned into quite an adventure.

I couldn't believe anything could top what happened to me in Paris, but, as you've probably seen, now I'm the center of attention in London.

Don't tell anyone, but my tennis game these days surprises even me. You know the type of guys I was struggling to beat a couple of years ago, when my game wasn't worth a damn. But now I'm back to feeling I may be the best player in the world.

Remember that quote you liked from when I was on top throughout 1995? (I know you do, because you told me you cut it out and saved it.) It was something like "If the universe held a big tennis tournament, the Earth would choose me to represent it."

I still laugh about that one and I'm laughing again at it now because it seems just as true as ever.

Hard to believe, isn't it? Here I was, supposedly washed up just a year or two ago and now I'm having the time of my life -- even if it's without Brooke. Winning the French Open was a shock in itself, and I took a lot of pride in becoming only the fifth man to own a personal Grand Slam. Select company, eh? Now here I am in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and feeling at least as good as I did when I won it in 1992.

I know it was awfully early back in Las Vegas, but did you see my Monday match with that Wayne Arthurs guy? He was tall and left-handed and all serve and I didn't even have a scouting report on him because he's a doubles player who almost never plays singles. Well, I finally beat him down and won in four sets but don't let anyone kid you: even someone ranked No. 163 has his strong points.

John McEnroe told me he said "Andre has probably never seen the guy play, much less play him" on TV, and he was right. But it all worked out for the best and I even snapped that unbelievable streak he had going of holding serve for something like 115 straight games.

You know what the difference in my game is? It's conditioning, even though I've always been in decent condition. But now I exercise religiously for two or three hours a day. I've lost 15 pounds just this year and my serve is getting clocked at a nifty 120.

I'm 29 and feeling on top of the world. If I let myself, I can even see that my comeback and my accomplishments this year -- especially if I win here in Jolly Old England -- have a certain historical significance.

(That reminds me, McEnroe also told me he said on TV that "Andre is the No. 1 player in the history of the game at quickly picking up the serve." He said I was "the greatest returner ever.")

But I can't let this go to my head. This isn't all just fun and games over here, you know. I've still got to beat Gustavo Kuerten on Wednesday -- make sure to set your alarm -- and that would put me in the weekend semifinals. Who'd a thunk it?

I come over to France without a clue in the world as to how I'd do, and I win that and now I'm charging -- that's what the headlines say -- through Wimbledon.

I couldn't be having more fun. You know I like the adulation that comes with playing well, but I honestly appreciate it much more than I used to and I hope people back home see me that way. Well, tell everyone hello. I'll give the Queen a peck on the cheek for you if I win this thing.

--Andre.