Tuesday, August 08, 2000
Martin trying to rebound from injury
Tore ligaments playing basketball Basketball game ruined an entire season
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Todd Martin
(AP photo)
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MASON — It was all harmless fun, three guys playing some basketball and sharing a few laughs. Then Todd Martin blocked a shot and crash-landed on his coach's foot.
He tore ligaments in his ankle. He missed 31/2 months of tennis.
His season was all but lost.
The Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati is only Martin's ninth tournament of the year, not counting Davis Cup play. He has won just three matches since his injury in February, the last one coming in the first round at Wimbledon — more than a month ago.
Martin plays today against No.11 seed Nicolas Kiefer in a rematch of a first-rounder last week in Toronto, which Kiefer won 6-1, 7-5.
“I went out with a great attitude,” Martin said. “Things didn't start out the way my attitude did. He played really well. He returned serve great, but he always does. I missed a lot of opportunities early on in the first set and generally in the second set. When you're in the flow a little bit better, those opportunities are capitalized on a little better.”
Martin is not in the flow.
Just a year ago in Cincin nati, he was the No.9 seed and ranked seventh in the world. He advanced to the finals of the 1999 U.S. Open before losing in five sets to Andre Agassi.
Martin comes into this week unseeded and 119th in the ATP Champions Race.
“I haven't played badly,” Martin said. “I haven't gotten into the flow. Part of it's a matter of you lose the first or second round a couple weeks in a row, and you don't really get as much (work) as you need. There's no substitute for getting out there and executing under pressure.”
Last year, he won 42 matches and finished a career- high seventh in the world. But he has not won a title since Sydney in January 1999.
Martin enters events now just trying to win a match or two.
“Winning the tournament, that's the goal,” he said. “If I win my first few matches, I'll set my sights on that. But first things first: I need to prove to myself that I not only can win, but I can enjoy it. It's pretty difficult to enjoy doing something poorly that you feel like you're a professional at.
“However, it happens to all of us. I've been in situations like this before. It's just that sometimes they come when you least expect it.”
Not everything is going bad.
Martin, who turned 30 last month, was included in People magazine's list of America's 100 Most Eligible Bachelors. However, he won't return to that in 2001.
A few weeks ago, Martin got engaged to long-time girlfriend Amy Barbato. The wedding is scheduled for December, he said.
“I had to wait until that article came out so I didn't discredit People magazine,” he said, smiling.
Asked about being one of the elder statesman among American players, Martin said:
“In a good way, I feel old,” he said. “I still feel like am close enough to some of the younger guys so I don't feel old, as in a fossil, and I still act immaturely enough to prove I've still got it in me.”
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