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ATP Insider February 28, 2002

UP FRONT...
->> SUPERMARKET SWEEP
- TODD MARTIN, BOB and MIKE BRYAN and JEFF MORRISON made a mad dash through a Kroger grocery store in Memphis on Tuesday during the Kroger St. Jude. The four joined Alexandra Stevenson and other WTA players as they raced on a timed shopping spree for charity. The men and women, playing together in Memphis for the first time, challenged each other to two-minute sprints through the aisles filling grocery carts with food, all of which was donated to the Memphis Food Bank. While the competition was heated, the Food Bank was the big winner as the players raked in $5,419.82 worth of food for the local charity.

Roger Federer ->> - ON THE CATWALK...After JAMES BLAKE'S modeling shoot in DEUCE magazine, a number of other ATP stars had the chance to strut their stuff on the catwalks of Rotterdam this week. With Tuesday traditionally being Ladies Day at the ABN/AMRO World Tennis Tournament, it's also a tradition to host a sportswear fashion show. More than 700 women turned up at the Ahoy Stadium to see ROGER FEDERER, THOMAS ENQVIST, IVO HEUBERGER, JOHN VAN LOTTUM and DENNIS VAN SCHEPPINGEN walk up and down the catwalk with Dutch models.

->> - LARS MEETS THE GREAT DANE After winning his first ATP title in Copenhagen, LARS BURGSMULLER was congratulated by Danish international goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel at the KB Hallen. The soccer star, who won 128 caps for his country and helped Manchester United win the Champions League against Bayern Munich in 1999, currently plays for Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Also a big tennis fan, the Great Dane congratulated Burgsmuller after defeating Olivier Rochus and said: "The final was highly enjoyable to watch. He gave me some great tips on how to improve my own game."

TOURNAMENT TALES
->> - IN MEMPHIS
LEANDER PAES, DAVIDE SANGUINETTI, TAYLOR DENT, PARADORN SCRICHAPHAN and JUSTIN GIMELSTOB made a visit to the St Jude Children's Research Hospital on Wednesday. The players joined Mercedes-Benz in presenting a limited edition miniature SL300 pedal car for the children to enjoy and toured several wards of the hospital. Paes, who is very active with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in India was very moved by the visit. "To see these children is an incredibly moving experience," said Paes. "We realize how fortunate we are to live our lives and see the happiness that they have from a simple visit." As if knocking out defending champion MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS wasnít enough work for one day, JONAS BJORKMAN conducted his post-match press conference while riding an exercise bike in the gym. During his 20-minute workout, the Swede joked: "I'm 30 next month - I've got to do something to compete with these young guys."

->> - IN ROTTERDAM In another case of tennis meets soccer, an international ATP contingent of HICHAM ARAZI, JOSHUA EAGLE, THOMAS JOHANSSON, MARK KNOWLES, IVAN LJUBICIC, DANIEL NESTOR, PETR PALA, ANDREI PAVEL, RAEMON SLUITER, SANDON STOLLE, BOHDAN ULIHRACH, JOHN VAN LOTTUM, PAVEL VIZNER and Mikhail YOUZHNY met with the AJAX Amsterdam soccer team and their coach Ronald Koeman at the ABN/AMRO World Tennis Tournament. After a game of soccer on the tennis court, the AJAX stars got a clinic in how to swing the racquet. At the end of the session, all the tennis players were handed a replica of the famous red and white AJAX soccer shirt with their own names printed on the back. "We met with other sports people who are at the highest level," said Pavel. "They showed us how to play football and we showed them how to play tennis." After meeting team captain Christian Chivu, Pavel added: "He's a really nice guy. We sat down and talked to each other for an hour afterwards."

->> - IN BUENOS AIRES ATP players donated their time to play an Argentina vs. Rest of the World exhibition at Buenos Aires Sunday to benefit coach and former ATP player CARLOS GATTIKER, who has Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). JUAN IGNACIO CHELA, MARIANO ZABALETA, GUILLERMO CORIA and GUILLERMO CANAS represented Argentina; GUSTAVO KUERTEN, MAGNUS NORMAN, ANDREA GAUDENZI and ALBERTO MARTIN comprised the Rest of the World team. Each player played a one-set match.

Andre Agassi DEUCE MAKES DEBUT DEUCE, The Official Magazine of the ATP, hit the newsstands this week and is available for purchase online now at ATPtennis.com. It will be distributed at all North American ATP tournaments this season, starting with the Kroger St. Jude Tennis Championships currently going on in Memphis, and sold at selected tennis pro shops and retailers including Barnes & Noble, B. Dalton and Books-a-Million. "DEUCE provides an in-depth look at men's tennis and many of the personalities on the ATP circuit," says Larry Scott, ATP COO and President of ATP Properties. In DEUCE, the superstars of world tennis are profiled by the biggest names in tennis journalism. Goran Ivanisevic invites Richard Evans to his home in Split to bask in his Wimbledon triumph while Tim Henman goes head-to-head with British journalist Barry Flatman in an exclusive interview. Sally Jenkins examines the dynamics of the Andre Agassi-Pete Sampras rivalry and you'll find profiles on Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Roger Federer.

MEDIA MONITOR With Lleyton Hewitt eager to make his return to action after a bout of chicken pox, Sandra Harwitt takes a look at the 2001 year-end No. 1 on tennisreporters.net. Writes Harwitt: "Confidence - a common trait that all champions seem to possess and Australian Lleyton Hewitt is definitely no exception. Only one year out of his teens, Hewitt captured his first taste of Grand Slam glory at the 2001 U.S. Open. And then in the late autumn, at 20 years, 10 months old, he because the youngest player ever to end a season as the world No. 1 player in the ATP rankings. Of course, confidence comes in different packages. Players like Bjorn Borg and Stefan Edberg wore theirs with that cool aloofness befitting the quiet Swedish personality. In contrast, the Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe's of the world were outwardly brash and cocky, never subdued enough to be ignored. In case you've missed Hewitt - although it's highly unlikely you didn't take notice last year - the scrappy Australian is of the Connors and McEnroe mold. Bold and brash, Hewitt holds nothing back, wearing his emotions on his sleeve."

NEW PRESS SECTION ON ATP WEB SITE The Press and Media section on ATPtennis.com has been given a new look for 2002, with easy-to-access ATP Champions Race, ESP and Prize Money standings, together with By the Numbers stats, ITW and ATP Insider archives, Media Guide downloads and Media Links.

SAY WHAT...
"I don't know if things are going to turn around for me. Only time will answer that. We'll have to wait and see."
- Michael Chang after his 6-4, 6-4 defeat at the hands of James Blake in Memphis.

"It's very awkward to play [Santoro], no one plays like him. He's able to create shots other canít even imagine to play."
- Tim Henman after defeating Fabrice Santoro in Rotterdam.

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