From our wire services
05 June 01
News Interactive
PARIS: Lleyton Hewitt won through to the quarter-finals of the French Open but was fined $2000 for verbal abuse after calling an umpire a "spastic" here last night.
HINDSIGHT by Richard Hinds
We now have the answer. And it is reassuring - unless the s-word happens to be part of your personal umpire-abusing repertoire. Among the large number of responses, we took a phone call from a schoolteacher who said that he hears the word used often while on yard duty and admonishes offenders. He can't ask them to pay a $2,000 fine out of their lunch money but he can give them a decent talking to.
Admittedly, this guy was an unreliable witness. His brother has cerebral palsy. For very personal reasons, misuse of the word spastic makes him cringe. He'd like Hewitt to know why.
So would the people at the Spastic Centre of Australia, who invited Hewitt to tour their facilities. Just so that the next time he uses the word, the South Australian would have some sort of context - and not the context provided by his fellow Adelaide Crows supporters in the outer at Football Park.
Also, a large number of commentators and talk-back callers made it clear this indiscretion should not be allowed to slip through to the 'keeper. This was encouraging because even some of the ex-jocks who rule the airwaves had overcome their usual inclination to give the local hero the benefit of the doubt.
So we can now confidently claim that what Hewitt said was not OK. Except, that is, with the people who really matter - those who could make a difference.
The disturbing part of the reaction to Hewitt's outburst was not his half-hearted acknowledgment that he had caused offence. Nor was it his defiant pledge that he would not modify his behaviour. It was the lack of rebuke from the few insiders for whom this rebel without applause seems to have respect.
John Newcombe claimed we should have been talking about what Hewitt did during the rest of the match. Tennis Australia boss Geoff Pollard suggested getting a dictionary because the word "has a number of connotations". Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said Hewitt has "got to be himself". Agent Tom Ross made a plea that the issue be kept "in context".
And if the Oklahoma bomber was in the Australian Davis Cup team, the same people would be calling for a good behaviour bond rather than the death penalty.
You would hope that Hewitt's trusted advisors explained the consequences of what he had said. But don't hold your breath.
Tennis suffers badly from Ugly Parents Syndrome. However, perhaps the greatest problem it now endures is the Submissive Entourage Factor.
There is no other professional sport where coaches, agents, officials and even parents tip-toe around the stars with such barely disguised fear as on the tennis circuit. Not only do they seem afraid of killing the golden goose, they are terrified to even ruffle the odd feather.
This is partly to do with the fact tennis is run by the players, for the players. No wonder grasscourt bumbler Gustavo Kuerten threatens to strike because he does not get a top seeding at Wimbledon, despite the apparent absurdity of his claim. When your every whim is officially catered for, you soon start to mistake them for God-given rights.
For too many tennis families, the child has become breadwinner. Inevitably, and to the detriment of all, the roles of child and parent become confused.
One Australian coach tells of how he had become frustrated with a female player's poor performances and, after yet another defeat, decided this was the day he would lay it on the line.
So he marched into the players' lounge, where he found his charge was being literally spoon-fed soup by her mother while her father administered a foot massage. Somehow, the moment was lost.
Then there are the agents who live in fear of losing their
clients, the Davis Cup coaches who rely on the goodwill of the players to get
a team together, and an often obliging media that will sometimes trade
objectivity for an easy quote. As was obvious in the reaction to Hewitt's
misdemeanours, those who should be in the best position to offer counsel are
sometimes the least inclined to do so.
It was reassuring to find that, this time, Hewitt's considerable ability with
a tennis racquet was no match for the weight of public opinion. But until the
words come from mouths of those he respects, you suspect Hewitt will allow
himself the indulgence of feeling victimised rather than being truly
apologetic.
I'm sorry – Hewitt
By LEO SCHLINK in Paris
06jun01
LLEYTON Hewitt today apologised for calling French Open officials spastics.
Hewitt lost his quarterfinal match against Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero Fourth
today, but won plenty of admirers with his unqualified apology for comments he
made during two his matches over the past eight days.
"When I was out there in the heat of the battle, I didn't realise I said
it," Hewitt said.
"If I did say it, it's something I'm not proud of, that's for sure. I
apologise to whoever it maybe.
"You know, I didn't want to offend anyone, that's for sure.
"It's hard when you're out there in the middle of a court. You're not
happy, you try and take it out on something or someone. I could have smashed a
racquet. There's things that I could have done better, I'm sure.
"Obviously, I wasn't happy with some of the line calls. I thought they went
against me."
Hewitt was fined $US1000 for an audible obscenity during an exchange with
Swedish umpire Andreas Egli during his fourth-round match with Guillermo Canas.
Hewitt called the official a spastic.
He had also used the word in his first round match, prompting a quiet warning.
Hewitt's choice of term had infuriated not only handicapped athletes but the
Spastic Centre of Australia, which has invited the feisty 20-year-old to visit a
centre for people with cerebral palsy to see what they could achieve.
Hewitt was taught another harsh lesson in clay-court tennis by Ferrero, who also
beat the South Australian on the surface at their last meeting to seal the Davis
Cup final for Spain last December.
Hewitt sorry for 'spastic' outburst
By By Trevor Marshallsea
Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt today apologised for using the term
"spastic" in verbal outbursts at the French Open, which he exited
today in the quarter-finals.
Hewitt used the term in a tirade against chair umpire Andreas Egli during his
fourth round match against Guillermo Canas, after which he was fined $US1,000.
($A1,980).
He had also used the word to attack a net cord judge in the first round.
Hewitt's choice of term had infuriated not only handicapped athletes but the
Spastic Centre of Australia, which invited the feisty 20-year-old to visit a
centre for people with cerebral palsy to see what they could achieve.
Hewitt, seeded sixth here, showed some remorse after being pounded in his
quarter-final by Spanish fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Though he had yesterday denied saying the word "spastic", today, when
prompted by questioning in a press conference, he issued an apology.
Responding to a question in his press conference, Hewitt said: "When I was
out there in the heat of the battle, I didn't realise I said it.
"If I did say it, it's something I'm not proud of, that's for sure.
"I apologise to whoever it may be.
"I didn't want to offend anyone, that's for sure."
Hewitt was taught another harsh lesson in claycourt tennis by Ferrero, who also
beat the South Australian on the surface at their last meeting to seal the Davis
Cup final for Spain last December.
There was no more of the Hewitt histrionics which accompanied his brilliant play
in the first four rounds.
There simply wasn't time for him to get worked up against Ferrero, who plays top
seed and defending champion Gustavo Kuerten in the semi-finals.
The 20-year-olds may have many great matches ahead, but it would appear that on
clay the whip hand will always belong to the Spaniard.
Hewitt actually made the early running on centre court, breaking Ferrero to 30
with some well worked points in the second game.
But that was the last time he would prove more than manageable for Ferrero.
The wiry young Spaniard broke back in the next game, and after serving out of a
break point at 3-4, then pounced on Hewitt's serve to break him again for 5-4.
He served out to love, with an ace on set point.
The remaining resistance from Hewitt was about to fall completely. Ferrero again
smothered him into mistakes in the second set, breaking him from deuce and from
love in his first two service games for a 4-0 lead.
Hewitt held twice before Ferrero again served for the set, holding to love
again.
Ferrero's practice run continued with two more early breaks in the third set
which made victory a formality.
Hewitt had been stunned by the onslaught and was clearly not himself. So much so
that far from being a fiesty opponent, he actually overruled to call one of
Ferrero's serves in during the sixth game of the third set.
On form alone the South Australian can leave Roland Garros with his head high
after his best performance here, including coming from two-sets-to-love down for
the first time in his life against Canas in the fourth round.
"I had nothing in my legs today. At the start of the second set I felt
dead," Hewitt said.
"I've had a great week and a half. I can take from the tournament a lot of
positives and a lot of negatives, things I can improve upon for next year."
Ferrero said he could see Hewitt was not his usual vibrant self, but was
delighted with his own superb form nonetheless.
"I started the match a little nervous but then I played so good and solid
on my serve all the time," Ferrero said.
"I think he was a little bit tired, because the other day was pretty tough
against Canas."
I won't change, says Hewitt
By LEO SCHLINK in Paris
07jun01
LLEYTON Hewitt has vowed not to curb his on-court behaviour despite delivering a
public apology for calling French Open officials spastics.
The world No. 6 conceded after his heavy quarter-final loss to Spanish claycourt
wizard Juan Carlos Ferrero that he had gone too far in labelling two Roland
Garros umpires spastics.
The South Australian said he would refrain from using the word in similar
fashion, but declared he would not curtail his combative, fist-punching style.
Hewitt, 20, was lauded for the apology he made after he was handed a 6-4 6-2 6-1
thumping by Ferrero.
"When I was out there in the heat of the battle, I didn't realise I said
it," Hewitt said.
"If I did say it (spastic), it's something I'm not proud of, that's for
sure. I apologise to whoever it may be. But when I'm actually out there in the
heat of battle, I didn't realise I said it, as I said yesterday.
"You know, I didn't want to offend anyone, that's for sure.
"It's hard when you're out there in the middle of a court. You're not
happy, you try and take it out on something or someone. I could have smashed a
racquet. There's things that I could have done better, I'm sure.
"Obviously, I wasn't happy with some of the line calls. I thought they went
against me."
Hewitt was fined $2000 for an audible obscenity in an exchange with Swedish
umpire Andreas Egli during his fourth-round match with Guillermo Canas.
Hewitt called the official a spastic, but it was not that word that drew the
fine.
Hewitt had also called a net-cord judge a spastic in his first-round match,
prompting a warning from Australian tournament supervisor Bill Gilmour.
Hewitt said he had talked to several former Australian greats and was determined
to weather flak for his expressive competitive persona.
"They think it's more of a positive than a negative," Hewitt said.
"The way that I've played, I've been criticised in the past. The way that
I've played at the Australian Open, no one had problems with it.
"If you talk to the senior players, who know a lot about tennis – Neale
Fraser, John Newcombe, Tony Roche, Rod Laver – they didn't see any kind of
problem with it in Australia.
"It's something I just have to ride. That's me. I love getting out there
and competing."
Hewitt indicated he was sometimes unaware of his intensity.
"If I don't get a call which I seriously believe I see it one way and the
umpire sees it the other way, I'm definitely going to put my point
forward," he said.
The Davis Cup star was frustrated at being overwhelmed by a man who has
forgotten how to lose.
Hewitt was strangely subdued as he struggled physically to cope with Ferrero.
"I felt I had nothing in my legs," Hewitt said. "I felt like I
got out there and didn't feel too bad the first set. Start of the second, I felt
dead.
"That's no excuse, though. Obviously, I had a tough match the match before
(against Canas), going five sets.
"But it's been an ongoing thing where I haven't been able to do any
off-court work for the last year (because of allergy problems).
"So, if you look at it that way, it's been a good week."
Hewitt's disconcerting lack of energy was measured in a condemning statistic for
a man renowned for fighting to the finish.
From 2-0 in the first set, he captured just five of the next 23 games.
Hewitt warned about remark
By LEO SCHLINK in Paris
06jun01
A LEADING International Tennis Federation official believed Lleyton Hewitt was
not being malicious when calling umpires spastics at the French Open, but has
warned similar use of the word will not be accepted.
Bill Babcock, the ITF's executive director of men's tennis, said he understood
Hewitt had not meant to offend officials in two matches at Roland Garros when he
used the word, culminating in a $1961 ($US1000) fine as he forged into the
quarter-finals.
"I understand where it might come from, but it is derogatory and in tennis,
it simply will not be accepted," Babcock said.
"I understand Lleyton was counselled after he used it the first time. I
don't think he was being malicious, but it will not be tolerated in tennis.
"I appreciate in some parts of the world, in some cultures, some words do
not carry the same connotations, but this is something which will not be
tolerated."
Hewitt was last night due to face Spanish superstar, fourth seed and title
favourite Juan Carlos Ferrero after brilliantly grinding his way to a protracted
five-set win over stubborn Argentine Guillermo Canas, recovering from two sets
down for the first time in his short career.
But the wonderful 3-6, 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory, which took four hours and
12 minutes and was spread over two days, was later overshadowed by the verbal
controversy. The South Australian was reported by Swedish umpire Andreas Egli
for an exchange at 1-2 in the second set.
Hewitt was counselled by Australian tournament supervisor Bill Gilmour after his
first-round win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu for calling a linesman a
spastic. Officials was horrified the Adelaide baseliner made the remark with a
disabled linesman monitoring the baseline.
Hewitt escaped with a warning then.
Canas' conduct is also likely to be reviewed after he lashed Egli as the tension
built.
Hewitt denied calling Egli a spastic even though the umpire included the term in
his official report.
"That's not what I got the code for," Hewitt said. "I didn't call
him (Egli) one (a spastic). I can't recall calling him one."
Officials plan to speak with Hewitt again after his playing commitments are
completed.
Hewitt says he is sorry if comments caused offence
By Ossian Shine
PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - Lleyton Hewitt said on Tuesday he was sorry if
comments he made during a French Open fourth round victory over Guillermo
Canas caused offence.
Television microphones picked up the Australian calling chair umpire Andreas
Egli a "spastic" over a disputed line call in the five-set match
against the
Argentine which started on Sunday and was not finished until Monday.
"When I was out there in the heat of the battle, I didn't realise I said
it.
If I did say it, it is something I'm not proud of, that's for sure. I
apologise to whoever it may be," Hewitt said on Tuesday after losing to
Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals.
Hewitt was fined $1,000 by French Open organisers on Monday for the outburst.
This prompted the Spastic Centre of Australia to call on Hewitt to visit one
of its centres to see what people with cerebral palsy can do.
"It's a great shame that having spasticity, which is one of the major
conditions associated with having cerebral palsy, should be used in such a
derogatory way," chief executive of the Spastic Centre Rob White told The
Australian newspaper on Tuesday.
"For a long time now we've been trying to change that negative sort of
comment, and it's unfortunate Lleyton should want to set this type of
example, especially as he is such an enormous role model to many, many
Australian children.
"We'd like to take this opportunity to invite Lleyton to visit the centre
and
see first-hand what a person with cerebral palsy can achieve."
Spasticity is associated with cerebral palsy, a brain disorder that affects a
person's muscle control.
An apologetic Hewitt added: "When I'm actually out there in the heat of
battle... you know, I didn't want to offend anyone, that's for sure.
"It's hard when you're out there in the middle of the court... you're not
happy... you try and take it out on something or someone.
"I could have smashed a racket. There's things I could have done better,
I'm
sure."
Win costs Hewitt $2000
From our wire services
05 June 01
News Interactive
PARIS: Lleyton Hewitt won through to the quarter-finals of
the French Open but was fined $2000 for verbal abuse after calling an umpire a
"spastic" here last night.
While compatriot Wayne Arthurs missed a quarter-final
place with a four-sets loss to Roger Federer, Hewitt completed another heroic
chapter in his brief career by winning his epic five-set fourth rounder against
Argentine Guillermo Canas, 3-6 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 6-3.
Their match resumed in the fifth set after being held over for bad light on
Sunday, and Hewitt - who had fought back from two-sets-to-love down - picked up
where he left off to complete victory, albeit on his fifth match point.
But the South Australian's win was tarnished by the fact he incurred a fine -
announced amidst a list of fines given out during the tournament under the Grand
Slam code of conduct - for a verbal abuse code violation he picked up in the
second set.
Hewitt was warned by chair umpire Andreas Egli after calling him a
"spastic" at the end of a line call dispute.
It was the second time at the tournament the tempestuous Hewitt had drawn a
code violation after using the term. He had used the same word to attack a net
cord judge during his first round match against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.
The 20-year-old's behaviour is not only drawing widespread criticism from
tennis commentators - including his former Davis Cup captain John Newcombe while
commentating on Australian TV - it has also raised concerns among officials from
his home country.
Mindful of the example Hewitt sets for children, particularly in Australia,
officials are understood to be planning to counsel Hewitt on his behaviour in
the near future.
If they were hoping for any early signs of remorse from him, they were
disappointed, as Hewitt tried to deny he had used the word "spastic",
though it was clearly picked up on TV coverage on both occasions.
The denial, however, fell flat. When told his term had been picked up by the
highly powerful microphones, Hewitt said: "That's not what I got the code
(violation) for." Hewitt's outbursts have been widely reported since they
occured, and not just by the Australian media. There can be little doubt his
agents, Octagon, will be keen for Hewitt to preserve his image as much as
possible, with sponsors acutely aware of the need for stars to toe an
inoffensive line in the days of saturation media coverage of sport.
Hewitt will now play fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero. The Spaniard is 1-1
with the South Australian in career meetings, but importantly his win was the
one which clinched Spain the Davis Cup final on clay last December.
Hewitt said he would be keen for revenge but conceded Ferrero is one of the
toughest clay court players in the world, and that he could definitely not
afford to drop his first two sets.
"It obviously hurt in Barcelona to lose the last match of the Davis Cup
final," he said. "In those conditions I thought I put up a pretty good
fight. I gave him a two-sets-to-love start as well. That's something I'm going
to have to try and work on tomorrow."
Arthurs' brave campaign came to an emphatic end against Swiss world No.18
Federer.
The big serving Victorian began well to take the first set, but then lost his
way against the steady Swiss, losing 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-2. END