Seles Learns What Happened to Lucic

That Monica Seles should lose in the third round at Wimbledon, appearing confused on the forehand side and out of sorts, is not a total shock.

After all, she has never won here, she exited in the third round here before, once in the second round, and hardly looked formidable in losing her opening match at Eastbourne, England, last week.

But the identity of the victor was the surprising development Friday.

Behind Door No. 1 . . . 17-year-old Mirjana Lucic of Croatia, who defeated the fourth-seeded Seles, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), in one hour 40 minutes.

Lucic, a teen star on the move a year ago, was close to becoming one of those “whatever happened to” kids who tumble into the abyss.

The lowest point, possibly, in her career was last year’s loss to Serena Williams here in the third round. Lucic later alleged that her father and coach, Marinko, abused her after poor training sessions and losses. He denied her claims.

The Williams loss, in particular, set him off, and triggered a chain of events. Mirjana, her mother Angelka and younger siblings left him behind in Croatia, making a dramatic escape to the United States.

Mirjana told a Zagreb newspaper last summer of the beatings: “Sometimes it was because of the lost game, in other cases for the lost set. I don’t even want to say what happened after the matches I lost.”

After her highest Wimbledon moment--the Seles victory--Lucic addressed the lowest point of her life last year.

“There were some tough times, but I think those are the times that make you an even better player, a tougher person,” she said.

Seles looks adrift without a full-time coach and was matter-of-fact about the surface not suiting her game.

“It was weird,” she said. “I had a few chances, but I think my returns were nowhere.”

Gaining a measure of consistency is something of a mystery.

“So many things, for that to happen, have to come together,” Seles said. “Suddenly, for Steffi [Graf], it all came together for her. I don’t know. I just think you have to see. Time will tell.”

Lucic needed time to find her way and is ranked 134th. She has been working with a new coach the last two months. With so much Wimbledon focus upon 16-year-old qualifier Jelena Dokic’s father and coach, Damir--who was detained for disorderly behavior at a recent tournament in Birmingham, England--Lucic was asked about the balancing act of parent and coach.

“I think it’s extremely difficult,” she said. “It’s almost impossible. The difference before and now with me in my life is that I only have my family there for support. When I look at the box where they’re sitting, I only see and I only hear, ‘Come on, let’s go.’ ”

Two other seeded women lost on Friday. Sixteen-year-old qualifier Kim Clijsters of Belgium defeated No. 12 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, 6-2, 6-4, and Tamarine Tanasugarn beat No. 13 Sandrine Testud of France, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.

Third-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia withdrew after the first game of the third set in the third round against Cedric Pioline of France, suffering a pulled right hamstring. Pioline lost the first set, 6-3, and took the second 6-4.

But the most dramatic men’s match involved Jim Courier. Courier won his second five-setter here, fending off two match points, defeating Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands, 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 3-6, 7-5, 13-11, in four hours 24 minutes.

Courier did all his talking on the court, leaving the grounds for the hospital in a courtesy car. He needed an IV, was treated at the hospital for dehydration and was expected to be released later.

He is making a habit of creating drama in England on the heels of his Davis Cup heroics at Birmingham against Great Britain. Another common denominator was the presence of U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson. Andre Agassi’s coach was riveted, as Brad Gilbert said he stood on a park bench for more than two hours to get a better view of the match. “I was there so long my feet fell asleep,” he said.

“He’s a great player and it was a great match,” Schalken said. “He hit two incredible shots at the right time. Great match and great for tennis. I think that’s why the queue is so long for the match.”

Said Gullikson: “I’m sure he’d rather win 2-2-2 and have tea and scones. Obviously, that’s what carried Jim to No. 1 and helped us win Davis Cup matches. It’s special what is inside his heart. He just never gives in.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Today’s Featured Matches

* MEN: Thomas Enqvist, Sweden, vs. Patrick Rafter (2), Australia; Alberto Martin, Spain, vs. Andre Agassi (4), U.S.; Richard Krajicek (5), Netherlands, vs. Lorenzo Manta, Switzerland.

* WOMEN: Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo, Spain, vs. Jana Novotna (5), Czech Republic; Lindsay Davenport (3), U.S., vs. Laura Golarsa, Italy; Elena Wagner, Germany, vs. Mary Pierce (9), France.