Ruling Aces Out Raymond

Lisa Raymond was on a practice court at New Haven, Conn., when she received word Wednesday that she would not be on the U.S. women’s tennis team at the Sydney Olympics next month.

“You don’t fight your butt off to become the No. 1 doubles player in the world and don’t get chosen to go the Olympic Games. How that’s not good enough--you tell me,” Raymond said at a news conference at the New Haven event.

Arbitrator Richard K. Jeydel denied Raymond’s grievance and left the team intact, meaning Serena Williams will be playing doubles with her older sister Venus. Playing singles are Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Venus Williams.

The six-hour arbitration hearing held Monday in New York included testimony from Serena Williams, team coach Billie Jean King, Raymond and officials from the USTA and USOC. It was difficult to find a true winner in the dispute.

Not Serena Williams, who was pulled into the mess, interrupting her U.S. Open preparation. “This was a distraction,” said her lawyer Keven Davis. “Obviously, Serena is happy this result came out.”

Not Raymond, who was bitterly disappointed when King departed from precedent and did not select the top-ranked U.S. doubles player. “She wanted to send a message so this doesn’t happen again,” said Raymond’s lawyer Gregory Becker.

And not the USTA, which took hits from the arbitrator, who in his ruling used such words as “misfeasance” and “flagrant violation” to describe USTA actions. “[Raymond] was misled by USTA’s untimely and ill-considered communications as to the standards to be followed in nominating team members,” Jeydel wrote.

The USTA, which offered to pay court costs for Williams and Raymond, had called for Olympic nominations based on rankings, without discretion. Later, on July 6, the USTA gave King instructions that “improperly” delegated discretionary authority to her, Jeydel wrote. “We regret any misinformation that may have led to confusion,” said USTA executive director Rick Ferman.