NOTEBOOK

NOTEBOOK
Courtside
Rusedski shocked: Greg Rusedski was stunned Lleyton Hewitt was eliminated on the first day of Wimbledon. "That's probably one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history," Rusedski said. "It just shows you anybody can beat anybody on a given day." Hewitt, the top-seeded defending champion, lost to Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-4 on Monday. "You've got to look at his achievements, what he's done the last two years, it's phenomenal," Rusedski said. "He finished two years as world No. 1, he won Wimbledon, he won the U.S. Open [in 2001]. I was surprised by the loss today but to maintain that year after year is so difficult. I think he's probably going to reflect and come back stronger after this loss."
More rivalries please: Boris Becker wants more rivalries in men's tennis. "In my opinion, tennis has become too proper, too politically correct, so that nobody can do anything any more," Becker said. "We forget that this is entertainment. People pay a lot of money for the ticket. Because, unlike any other sports, a match is not played against time. It's me and him, first to six, best-of-five and it can last for hours. There's a winner and a loser. And this aspect of one man against another is unique, so raw it has to come out." Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, said only Lleyton Hewitt showed any emotion on court. "The mental confrontations are a very big part of tennis," Becker said. "It's what we miss a little bit in the men's game today. That one-to-one drama. There are too many matches and players in whom you don't see the emotion."
Kuerten survives: Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten seemed to be on his way out of Wimbledon in his first appearance in three years when he trailed Dutchman John van Lottum 2-6, 3-2 on Centre Court. But Van Lottum injured his back while serving in the second set and, despite 10 minutes treatment on court, was unable to continue. He went back to the service line, threw the ball up again and realized he couldn't continue. The Dutchman walked off the court in tears and Kuerten, who reached the quarterfinal here four years ago, advanced to the second round.
More money or else: Wimbledon organizers tried to quiet a possible rebellion over money by male tennis players, reminding them that profits from Grand Slam events are reinvested in other tournaments. More than 80 male pros have threatened to play in alternative tournaments set up by the ATP if disagreements with the Grand Slams about prize money and other issues aren't smoothed over.
-- Associated Press