Babsi and the glamour clamour

LONDON, JUNE 29. Barbara Schett (Babsi), the new sex symbol on the women's tour, says she can't understand all the fuss even if the 25-year-old from Innsbruck is happy to go along with it.

In Anna Kournikova's absence the British tabloids are all over the blonde bombshell, even though she has not managed to get past the fourth round here in six visits.

``I don't get it at all. The only thing I really like about myself is my white teeth!'' she told an Austrian newspaper.

Barbara's private life has been pored over following her split from long-time boyfriend and former Davis Cup player Thomas Prerovsky, whom she has now replaced as her coach with Harry Maier.

``When you're on the tour you don't have time for proper relationships,'' she explains. And adds that she can certainly understand the fuss about glamour rival Kournikova. ``If I were a man I'd go for her!''

Goran's menu

Goran Ivanisevic, runner-up three times in the men's singles, is easily satisfied when it comes to his supper at Wimbledon.

The big Croat reputedly almost always eats the same food: fish soup, lamb and then ice cream - with a large helping of chocolate sauce on top.

And the diet appears to be doing no harm given his record here as Ivanisevic enjoys his 14th and last campaign at the championships.

One of the most colourful characters on the circuit, he ousted qualifier Fredrik Jonsson of Sweden in the first round - his first win at a Grand Slam in six attempts and then followed with a win over Carlos Moya.

French-Flemish connection

French-speaking Belgian eighth seed Justine Henin and seventh- seeded Flemish-speaking compatriot Kim Clijsters are doing their bit to bring their two communities together - and Henin equated her country with Canada.

Henin, having ousted Dutch qualifier Kristie Boogert to reach the women's singles third round, was asked what kind of relationship the two linguistic sides of the divide enjoyed and she said she herself drew no distinction between them.

``I think it's a different mentality from American people. I think maybe it's more like in Canada. Belgian people are very friendly. Flemish or the French part, for me it's the same.''

Roddick falls in love, at once

For America's new teenage tennis sensation Andy Roddick, it was love at first sight.

Playing his maiden match on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon's revered centre court, he said: ``I got goose bumps when I was walking out there. It's just kind of majestic.

``The centre court here is probably the most prestigious place to play, you know, in tennis. So to get a chance at such a young age, I really cherish that,'' he said after defeating Sweden's latest grass court star Thomas Johannson.

But the fresh-faced 18-year-old was careful not to forget his ID pass before walking off court.

``I get stopped everywhere. You'll see 18 guys walking before me. I'll be the one pointed out. I guess they think I'm trying to sneak into the locker rooms.''

For the eyes only

Serena Williams loves Britain's scandal- hungry tabloids - but she never reads what they say. She just likes looking at the pictures.

At Wimbledon, the questions at the post-match press conferences rarely stay confined to tennis and the tabloid journalists, suffering withdrawal symptoms over the absence of the stunning Russian Anna Kournikova, love to probe every little detail of a player's private life.

That doesn't bother Serena Williams. ``This country, they like a lot of gossip. Everyone is trying to sell a paper. You have to do things to sell a paper and make money these days.''

Asked if she ever read the tabloids and got a laugh out of them, she said: ``Oh no. I only look at the pictures. If it's a nice picture of me, I'll keep it. I like to look at the pictures a lot. That's it.''

Caught in the crossfire

The British are renowned for their politeness - but the tennis courts at Wimbledon can be a real battleground.

Tim Henman, the epitome of genteel middle-class England, was once famously disqualified for firing off in anger a ball that hit a ball girl. Now Britain's Greg Rusedski has the line judges running for cover with his bullet serves hurtling down the court at over 135 miles an hour. He scored a direct hit on one line judge who had to leave courtside. ``It's all part of the job,'' argued Rusedski. ``I'm sure he is all right. It's a tennis ball, not a cricket ball. If it was a cricket ball, maybe he'd be in trouble. I didn't mean to hit him. That's just part of the game, I guess.''

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