Tennis: Smith's advance provides relief for British women

Virginia Wade strode proudly across the court during the inauguration of the Arthur Ashe Stadium the other night, Britain's representative in a parade of 37 winners of the United States singles championship from Donald Budge to Steffi Graf.

It was a nostalgic moment. While Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski have raised the perception of the British game, we no longer have female players capable of beating, or even competing, with the best.

Yesterday at least brought welcome relief from the embarrassing lack of a British presence in the women's singles here in the encouraging form of Sam Smith, of Essex. Sam, as in Samantha, of course.

The 25-year-old Smith, a qualifier, defeated Australia's Nicole Pratt, 6-3, 6-1, advancing to a second-round match against Conchita Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion. Smith scouted Martinez's first- round match, a romp, 6-1, 6-2, against Jennifer Capriati, the former American prodigy.

So where has Smith been all these years? Improving her education. This is her second season back on the WTA Tour since graduating in history from Exeter University.

"I think I'm a much more complete player now, technically and mentally," Smith said, enjoying her recent performances, which are likely to lead to a place in the world's top 100 next week. We can only imagine what success against Martinez would achieve.

While on the British theme, Henman, who plays Thomas Muster in his opening match today, has been consulting Stefan Edberg, who is something of an expert on the Austrian No 5 seed. Edberg defeated Muster in all 10 of their matches, winning on every surface.

For someone who needs no introduction, Andre Agassi appears to have taken inordinate offence after an oversight during a dinner. The Las Vegan subsequently walked out on Monday night's parade of champions, the highlight of the inauguration of the $254m (pounds 165m) Arthur Ashe Stadium

Harry Marmion, the president of the US Tennis Association, neglected to read out Agassi's name at the dinner for former champions held at the National Tennis Center a few hours before the dedication ceremony.

Although Agassi's wife, the actress Brooke Shields, told reporters before the dinner, "We're here to honour Arthur Ashe," there was no sign of the 1994 champion in the parade.

Boos from many among the 20,000 spectators greeted an announcement that Agassi was unable to attend the ceremony. He had a first-round match on his mind, but that was scheduled to take place 24 hours later.

Agassi denied yesterday that he had left in a huff. "Something arose," he said. "It was a tough call." He did not elaborate.

Chris Evert, a six-times champion, confirmed that Agassi's name had been omitted at the dinner. "They forgot to mention him," she said. "There was a mistake made. You know, you've just got to take it with a grain of salt and kind of throw these things off sometimes. I was surprised he wasn't there. He should have been there."

Agassi was not the only absentee from the parade. Pete Sampras, due to play as soon as Whitney Houston finished singing "One Moment in Time", remained in the locker room, watching the show on television. "I was in my tennis gear, so I wasn't planning on it," the defending champion said after defeating Australia's Todd Larkham, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. "If I didn't play tonight, there would have been a good chance I would have attended."

Jimmy Connors, a heroic competitor who won the title five times, was not here to please the crowd on this occasion, choosing instead to play in one of his seniors' events. Connors, it may be remembered, boycotted a parade of champions at Wimbledon's centenary championships in 1977.

Arthur Ashe was once sued by Connors after suggesting that Connors was unpatriotic with regard to his lack of commitment to the United States Davis Cup team. The action was dropped after Ashe defeated Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon final.

Monica Seles was so thrilled to be in the parade that she took a video camera on the court. "It was a very special night, and down the years, 20 years or something, I can show my family or whatever," said Seles, who defeated Kristie Boogert, of the Netherlands, 6-1, 6-2, shortly before the ceremony.

Martina Hingis, the 16-year-old Wimbledon champion, opened her campaign for a third Grand Slam singles title with a 6-0, 6-1 victory against the American Tami Whitlinger-Jones, whose next big challenge will be motherhood. "I asked Tami before we went on the court, 'Where is your little stomach?' Hingis said. "She was very happy about it."

Results, Digest, page 23