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Next year, staying No. 1 won't be easy

 
Published Aug. 10, 1999|Updated Sept. 29, 2005

It's a good thing Pete Sampras surpassed Ivan Lendl's record for career weeks at No. 1 last week. With the ATP Tour poised to undergo a major rankings system change next year, Sampras did well to get the record now.

That's because Sampras benefits from the current tour rankings system in which a player's results from the previous 52 weeks are used to determine his ranking. Even if he falls into a mild slump, as he has at the beginning of the last two years, he still can stay on top with the help of his past performances.

But starting Jan. 1, instead of using results from the past 52 weeks, the tour will use only a player's results from the current year. So, when the season begins in 2000, every player will start from scratch.

If results dip, ranking likely will, too. No longer will a player lose a string of first-round matches but surprisingly vault to No. 1. At least, that's what tour officials are aiming for.

Here's another potential pitfall for Sampras. The new system always will place more weight on the tour's Super 9 events, such as the Lipton Championships. Because of repeated injuries and personal preference, Sampras hasn't typically played all of the Super 9 tournaments. This season, he has played three of the five so far.

Skipping some of those events next season could hurt his ranking if the other top players enter all or most of them. Granted, there's a good chance Sampras will maintain his hold on the top spot next year despite the changes. But unquestionably, it's going to be harder.

"I've cherished every year I've been No. 1," Sampras said in the days leading up to his victory over Andre Agassi in the Mercedes-Benz Cup final Aug. 1 in Los Angeles. "We'll see what happens in the next few years."

BETTER LATER THAN NEVER: Lindsay Davenport is no doubt having the best stretch of her career. In this age of teen stars rocketing to fame, Davenport said it's especially nice that she's playing her best at age 23, which is middle age for tennis players.

"It's been an incredible year, and I've enjoyed every minute of it," she said. "To have your greatest success a little later is sometimes more enjoyable."

LINDSAY TAKES THE BAIT: Looks like the USTA's motivation for choosing California for the Fed Cup final wasn't just the sunny and mild West Coast weather. The choice has drawn the attention of Davenport, who passed on captain Billie Jean King's invitation to play in the semifinals.

Davenport is a California girl and reportedly was thrilled to hear the final between the United States and Russia was going to be held in her home state. She was so thrilled that she said publicly she wants to play.

"I am so excited that the Fed Cup will be coming to California," she said. "I have made myself available and hope that Billie Jean would pick me. I love playing in California. The fans at Stanford really support tennis, and to play for your country in that environment would be an unbelievable experience."

PLEASE, TENNIS QUESTIONS ONLY: Alexandra Stevenson makes her first U.S. appearance today since creating a stir at Wimbledon with her tennis and family tree. The 41st-ranked Stevenson takes on Anke Huber in the first round of the Acura Classic in suburban Los Angeles.

The winner meets Davenport in the next round.

_ Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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