Columnist Victoria Sun: Workmanlike effort sends Martin into semifinals

Victoria Sun

Friday, Sept. 8, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

Victoria Sun's tennis column appears Friday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com

The guy with the shin splints, taped left wrist and shaky hips reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open Thursday night.

The 30-year-old with the gray sideburns and bushy eyebrows who looks eerily like a distant relative of Eddie Munster triumphed over the 25-year-old Swede with golden skin and a full head of blond locks.

The quiet 6-foot-6 American giant who has spent most of his 10-year professional tennis career in the shadows of Las Vegan Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and former Henderson resident Michael Chang moved one step closer to winning his first Grand Slam title.

His name, Todd Martin, is as plain as his no-nonsense game.

And amid loud cheers from a pro-Martin crowd, his game was good enough for a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, quarterfinal victory over Thomas Johansson.

Martin's reward is a trip to the semifinals for the third time in his career. There, he will have his first meeting against 20-year-old Russian Marat Safin. In Saturday's other semifinal, fourth-seeded Sampras will play Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

As compelling as Sampras' quest for another Grand Slam title may be, I'm hoping this is Martin's year.

How can you not root for a guy who grew up playing indoor tennis in Michigan, not the hard courts of sunny Southern California or Florida, and still managed to be successful?

He's a guy who played at Northwestern for two years before turning pro. Big Ten tennis, unlike say, Pac-10 tennis, has never been a power.

Every year Martin draws little attention to himself, always content to defer the spotlight to the other players. In the locker room, he is known as one of the nicest guys on the tour and when people pay Martin compliments about his character, they actually mean it.

Through the years, Martin has had his share of injuries, but his spirit hasn't diminished. He's always been a staunch supporter of Davis Cup and proud to represent the U.S. whenever he is asked.

Last year he made headlines by surviving a grueling five-setter against Greg Rusedski in the U.S. Open Round of 16 before losing to Agassi in another five-setter.

On Tuesday night, he forged another amazing comeback against Spaniard Carlos Moya in the fourth round.

Down two sets to love and match-point, Martin clawed his way back from elimination the only way he knows how. His gutsy performance against Moya lasted four hours and 17 minutes. Afterwards, Martin did a victory lap while giving high-fives and hugs to all of the dedicated fans who stayed past 1 a.m.

I just hope Martin can muster enough strength the next two days to survive the blistering power of Safin and maybe sneak by Sampras in the finals on Sunday.

Serena Williams had a say in the design of her new Puma outfits she debuted at this year's Open, but I'd say she failed. With a perfectly sculpted body, Serena can pull off just about any outfit, but her bright pink and black pleated skirt that had a funky tie-dye print was not attractive and her black dress adorned with the same print was equally awful. And no, the matching Puma sneakers in the same shade of pink didn't help. ...

That wasn't a futuristic accessory nestled in Richard Krajicek's brown mane during his quarterfinal loss to Sampras Wednesday night. It was a big white piece of string. Midway through the second set, a spectator finally told an amused Krajicek, who plucked it out of his hair.

Now all it needs is some funding to get there.

The team -- made up of Julia Baltas, China Rose Gumiensky, Jessica Dangerfield, David Nicholes, Andrew Craven and Ryan Bowman -- placed second in the 14-and-under division at the sectional championships last weekend in Salt Lake City to qualify for the regional.

All six players are part of the Tennis 2000 program, a nonprofit junior tennis organization dedicated to providing tennis training at an affordable price for middle income to low income families. Tennis 2000, run by director and president Leon Vernon, helps kids with training, equipment and travel costs by providing eligible students scholarships.

The regional competition will consist of a round robin format. No player is allowed to compete in more than two events.

Vernon said Baltas and Dangerfield will switch off in singles for the girls while Craven and Bowman will play singles for the boys.

"They really are fighting desert tortoises," Vernon said. "That's the team's strengths.

"They got off to a slow start, but were consistently good enough to come back. We have experienced boys and some really good up and coming young girls. They caught other teams by surprise with their teamwork and ability on the court."

Anyone wishing to help sponsor the team's trip to Chicago can call the Tennis 2000 office at 894-9032.