Sicilian Culture: News: Jennifer Capriati

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Jennifer Capriati - Fairy Tale Comeback?
From: Scoop's Editorial

January 31, 2001 - - Once upon a time, before Tiger Woods, another child prodigy took the sporting world by storm. Although Jennifer Capriati was barely 14, the rules of tennis were fairly lax, and the tennis elders, smelling big Benjamins, even bent the rules to allow little Jennifer to play competitively.
Feeling used and smelling a rat, little Jennifer rebelled against her family and the sporting establishment, and immediately became “Big Jennifer.” As in “Big, Fat, Out-Of-Shape Jennifer.” As in “Partying Jennifer,” who, of course, became “Reefer-Madness Jennifer.”
Time out!
As in “Time Out—Time To Take Some Time Off” Jennifer, to “Get Her Shi*, errrr, Act Together Jennifer.” You see, “Little Jennifer” was burned out by the age of 16, yikes!, literally and figuratively. And as you know, little people, when acting bratty, are forced to take time outs. Which Jennifer did, uh, without being forced.
Hey! This might be a fairy tale, but after all, when big bucks are involved, nobody wants the child to take a time out…are you crazy???!!!
* * * * * * * *
It was not a pretty fairy tale ending. In real life, it never is. Raised by a demanding tennis father, Jennifer Capriati had to quit the sport she was raised to dominate—almost before she began. At 17, Capriati could no longer keep up with the pace that a touring pro’s lifestyle demanded.
Rebellion and restlessness set in. Making fairy tale money that the rest of us beggars could only dream about, Capriati used some of the cash for sinning. It was a cry for help. And finally, the “adults” figured it out: Jennifer should live life for herself, not for them.
Slowly Capriati got better. First emotionally, then mentally. And finally physically. Improving physically as a tennis pro is misleading, however. You see, for the 30 months while Jennifer slept sweet dreams, the other gals, especially the brat pack of Hingis, Serena and Venus Williams, Davenport, and Kournikova practiced and got better and better.
And so Capriati struggled to get back into tennis for four or five years. Attempting a comeback was difficult; it was much harder than anybody imagined. For a couple of years, Capriati barely won matches, let alone tournaments. Once in awhile, she went a little further in match-play, but a tournament final? Not even close.
Time to bring back her father…yeah, the same one she rebelled against…as her coach. Father and daughter worked hard. And harder. And even harder. And finally, Jennifer got back into great tennis shape.
Winning the Australian Open last week was the end result of that hard work.
Not really. That would be for fairy tales. In truth, last week was only the beginning. Father and daughter would have it no other way.
www.sportscartoon.com/january_31,_2001.htm
Unofficial Jennifer Capriati Fan Site with Statistics
capriati.topcities.com/fanmail.html
Jennifer Capriati Website: Steven Capriati

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