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Holy salkow, Batman, Miki’s back! Yes, Japan’s very own Babe on Ice, Miki Ando, roared back to form in the opening event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, not only winning October’s Skate America competition in Connecticut, but overshadowing younger teen star Mao Asada, everybody’s current tip for greatness. Ando, of course, was panned after finishing a disappointing 15th at the Turin Olympics, but she’s lost a bit of chunkiness and taken her skating to a higher level; maybe now she will start to fulfill her promise. Next up on the calendar is the NHK Trophy from November 30 to December 3 in Nagano. Japan’s women skaters are hot right now. Catch them while you can. FV See sports listings for details.
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By Fred Varcoe
AIG Japan Open
Some of the tennis world’s big hitters battle it out
in Tokyo
While the number of international tournaments available to
tennis fans in Japan has been halved in recent years, what’s
left certainly has the ability to bring in big names. The
Toray Pan Pacific draws a host of women stars every February,
while the Japan Open does the same for the men’s game
(it also has a bonus parallel women’s tournament). John
McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier,
Boris Becker, Michael Chang and Pete Sampras are just some
of the superstars who have found their way down to Ariake
Colosseum at the end of the Yurikamome line. This year’s
event (Oct 3-9) is no different, as it welcomes everybody’s
favorite Brit, a former Wimbledon finalist and last year’s
French Open winner.
When “everybody’s favorite Brit” appeared here
before, he was an up-and-coming chap who not many people had
heard of outside Britain. Tim Henman was promptly whipped
by world No. 1 Pete Sampras before heading to Nagoya for the
ultimate humiliation—being beaten by a Japanese player.
In the seven years since he was last here (when he reached
the quarterfinals), Henman, 31, has become one of the best
players in the world, although he hasn’t played like
it this year. Since reaching the semifinals of the US Open
a year ago, Henman’s form has dipped dramatically, and
perhaps his return to Tokyo is a desperate attempt to win
a tournament where he won’t find Roger Federer.
It was hoped he would meet Marat Safin, but unfortunately,
the Russian star and Australian Open champion has been forced
to pull out, the result of a lingering knee injury that will
also keep him out of the Davis Cup semifinal against Croatia.
Apart from Henman, two of the main attractions in the men’s
draw at Ariake will be from Argentina. David Nalbandian came
to world attention when he made the final at Wimbledon three
years ago, although the tennis world knew of him when he took
the US Open junior singles title in 1998 by beating Roger
Federer. At 180cm, the 23-year-old hardly matches up to sides
of beef like Safin, but the man from Cordoba more than punches
his weight on court. Nalbandian will not be the only Argentine
challenging for the title; compatriot and world No. 9 Gaston
Gaudio, the 2004 French Open champion and a five-time winner
this year, will also be in town looking for another title
to add to his growing collection.
Targeting the top players will be popular Thai star Paradorn
Srichaphan, a dark horse who, when he’s “in the
zone,” can be almost unbeatable. Srichaphan, the top
Asian player, reached the semifinals here in 2002 and the
quarterfinals a year later, when he also rose to No. 9 in
the world.
The men’s doubles will be lively as well with the participation
of the Bryan twins from the United States. Like their riotous
predecessors, the Jensen brothers, the Bryans—right-handed
Mike and left-handed Bob—believe in being cool as well
as being good. The pair are ranked No. 1 in the ATP race and
have reached the finals of three Grand Slam tournaments.
In the women’s tournament, Russia’s Vera Zvonareva
will be challenged by Japanese No. 1 Shinobu Asagoe, who seems
to be getting better with age, but both will have to contend
with former world No. 8 Ai Sugiyama. Also on display will
be Japan’s youngest ever professional tennis player,
Ayumi Morita, who turned pro in April this year—a month
after her 15th birthday— and has been touted as a “child
genius.”
The AIG Japan Open Tennis tournament
takes place Oct 3-9 at Ariake Colosseum. See sports listings
for details.
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to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
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