Tennis mailbag, with CNN's Candy Reid
(CNN) -- Do you have a question about tennis for World Sport Anchor Candy Reid? E-mail candy@cnn.com.
Q. What a refreshing experience is reading your mailbag. It is not often that we can read material from somebody that knows what he or she is talking about. Since I discovered it, I look for the mailbag every day. Tennis has been ignored by the media for so long! I agree with most of your opinions, but on the list of best women players, I believe that Margaret Smith Court was missing. I have such a good opinion of her that I would put her right in front as number one. In the men's section, I would always put Roy Emerson before McEnroe. Of course it is only my opinion, and I may be biased by having seen both of them personally. I would love to see your comments on these. Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Pedro Vila, Elkhart Lake, WI
A. Pedro thanks for your kind words and for checking out the mailbag! It was certainly tough to decide on my top 5 -- I must have changed my mind about 10 times! Both Roy Emerson and Margaret Smith Court are very worthy contenders but unfortunately I didn't get to see them play, while I watched the others (with the exception of Rod Laver and Billie Jean King) countless times! As Peter Johnson suggested in an earlier mailbag, perhaps it's too early to have listed Federer as number 5, but I firmly believe he's the best player the game has ever seen!
Q. What's going on with Jennifer Capriati, knowing that she had surgery on her shoulder and wonder if any she will be back with us soon? I really miss her playing. Not sure how long she be with us in playing and do hope that she can get back on her feet again as we do need her.
Thanks, Fredo
A. Capriati at her best is a joy to watch Fredo. Like Lindsay Davenport, she has an amazing amount of weight on her ground strokes, so after the ball bounces it really moves through (rather than bouncing up), making her extremely difficult to beat from the baseline. As I'm sure you know, Capriati has been out of action for 5 months now and had surgery in January -- but she's obviously not quite ready to return, after pulling out of the Pacific Life Open. She's probably only got a few years left as a pro tennis player if her shoulder holds up -- she's now 28 (a veteran in tennis!) and has been on tour for an astonishing 15 years!
Q. It appears most of the top players are getting injured; not allowing us to see all of the top players at any given tournament. Do you think it is the schedule or more of the top players are young/old? Is there a prime age for a tennis player (male/female)? By the way, I think Roddick should have kept Brad G. as his coach.
Jeff, Jacksonville, Fl.
A. Jeff, I believe that some players play too much, and return far too soon after injury. Kim Clijsters was a victim of her own success last year. She seemed to play in every tournament in 2003 and her body certainly suffered. There's so much pressure to return to the game as soon as possible. Young players are trying to make their mark on the game, while those with more experience are concerned about seeing their ranking fall and their rivals doing well, and think they must get back on court (there's also the money factor) -- but often that leads to other injuries. Tennis is extremely tough on the body, especially on some hard-courts, and with the constant traveling; it's easy to see why the body breaks down every now and then. As for your last thought, Roddick certainly did well under Gilbert's guidance, but their relationship obviously wasn't what it was, and that's the most crucial thing between a coach and a player since you're together practically all the time. Many wondered why Roger Federer parted ways with Peter Lundgren after the pair had been so successful together -- but it certainly didn't hurt the Swiss's game!
Q. Candy, if a player wins, say, 80 percent of her first serves and 60 percent of her second serves, why does she ever use her second serve?
A. That's a great question -- you'll often see many of the men hit two first serves to surprise their opponents. But the second serve is very important as it should be very different from the first. Most players' first serve is flat or has a little slice on it, while the second serve is usually a kick serve (and in the men's game, often just as difficult to get back.) It's also a higher percentage serve, one which you should rarely miss. It's important in tennis to mix it up -- you don't want your opponent to get into a rhythm.
Q. Candy, is Roger Federer's domination good or bad for the men's game? A rivalry for the top spot might make things interesting, but its obvious Hewitt, Roddick and Safin are in a battle for second place.
Brian, Matthews N.C.
A. Brian, I don't think that Federer's domination of the game has become boring because he's not a one-dimensional player -- and can produce a new shot in every match he plays. But you're right, Hewitt, Roddick and Safin are certainly in a battle for the number 2 spot. Federer has raised the bar (like Tiger Woods did in golf) so it's up to the others to improve. It will happen, it's just a matter of when!
