Copyright 2002 / Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

November 8, 2002 Friday Home Edition

SECTION: Sports; Part 4; Page 10; Sports Desk

LENGTH: 832 words

HEADLINE: Diane Pucin; Of Her Many Images, Which Is Real Capriati?

BYLINE: Diane Pucin

BODY:

Jennifer Capriati was the pig-tailed pixie and heir to Chris Evert's tennis goodwill, and we all loved her, didn't we?

Jennifer Capriati was the teenage burnout, the accused shoplifter, the troubled girl in a hotel room with drugs and strangers, and what a tragic story she had become, and we were disgusted at the squandering of talent and goodwill, weren't we?

Jennifer Capriati was the lost soul, traveling aimlessly on the tennis circuit, playing the game because she could do nothing else, and wasn't it sad?

Jennifer Capriati was the comeback sports heroine for the ages, a young woman who had come through all her troubles to win Grand Slam titles, to be No. 1, to smile girlishly while tennis fans swooned and gave back their adoration, eager to see the giggly 13-year-old and not the grown woman who wasn't comfortable talking about her past or her future, and we were all redeemed, too, weren't we? And now, what?

Jennifer Capriati has come to Staples Center for the Home Depot WTA Championships as the third-seeded player and owner of the 2002 Australian Open title. She also comes as the winner of only one match since her upset loss to Amelie Mauresmo in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. She has lost twice to exandra Stevenson and been bageled a set in a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Conchita Martinez.

She was nobody's sweetheart when, a day after her beating by Mauresmo, New York tabloids had photos of Capriati at a nightclub after she had taken off her blouse and was dancing in her bra while dangling a cigarette from her fingers.

Already during the Open, Capriati had been hammered when she was asked for her opinions on T i t l e IX and responded that she had no idea what T i t l e IX was.

Capriati, now 26 and a 12-year veteran of the tour, had her father and coach, Stefano, hovering in the press room at Staples during media day this week, keeping track of what his daughter said and how long she would be forced to endure listening to tough questions about a WTA fashion show and whether she was tired or not......