BY DAVE SCHUTTE and MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Fans attending the afternoon sessions next week of the Great American Insurance ATP Championship will be offered a challenge.
A ballot listing three matches to be played during that session will be distributed to every paying spectator. They will have the opportunity to pick the winner and the score of each match.
"We're trying to bring something exciting and different into tennis," said Ian Froman, President of Match It Promotions. "We won't list only the top matches because too many are predictable. It's tougher than you think."
Prizes, ranging from wrist watches to a $3,000 mountain bicycle will be presented to the winner each day by one of the top players. A resident of Tel Avi, Israel, the 60-year-old Froman was a practicing dentist until 1972 he quit to spend time promoting youth tennis in the country.
"We raised enough money to build 14 tennis facilities throughout Israel for boys and girls," Froman said. "It's now starting to pay off."
Froman is the Director of the $500,000 Pashkent Tournament which will be played in September. Pashkent is located in Uzbekistan, a former republic of the Soviet Union.
"Tim Henman won last year," Froman said. "We have another good draw. Tennis is new to Pashkent. We initiated the Match It contest several years ago. It's pretty tough picking the winner of three matches."
Froman, who's accompanied by his 25-year-old son Philip, a member of the Israeli Army, pointed out that it's a guessing game and no gambling is involved.
"We drove to Cincinnati from New York because of all the computers used for the contest," Philip Froman said. "We designed the computers and didn't want to damage them on the plane."
If the concept is well accepted, Froman plans to use it at other tournaments throughout the world.
"I take my hat off to Paul Flory (Tournament Director) for allowing us to try it first in Cincinnati," Froman said. "There is a fee but we're only trying to cover our expenses in Cincinnati."
A complex system will be used to determine the winner who will be announced immediately after the last of the three matches is completed.
New layout
The addition of two courts (nine and 10) has changed the layout of the ATP complex while cutting down on areas where the fans have been entertained in past seasons.
Located on the South side adjacent to the Grandstand Court, the new courts replace the big tent (Fan Fest) where tennis clothing and equipment were sold by adidas and ATP Sales, along with games such as Beat the Jensens.
A smaller tent has been set up for the clothing sales adjacent to the food court. The only remaining competitive activity is the RADO Smash Center where fans have an opportunity to win prizes for the fastest serve each day.
Early arrivals
Many of the top names players have already checked in at the ATP Center and can be seen practicing on Saturday and Sunday on the side courts. Those already in Cincinnati include Petr Korda (No. 3 seed), Jim Courier, Cedric Pioline, Michael Chang, Jan-Michael Gambill, Thomas Muster, Todd Martin, Alberto Berasategui, Jonas Bjorkman and Justin Gimelstob.
Also, Marcelo Rios (No. 2 seed), Wayne Ferreira, Felix Mantilla, the Jensen brothers, Luke and Murphy, and the defending Great American Insurance ATP doubles champion Woody's, Tood Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.
Chang's back
Michael Chang, who won the Great American Insurance ATP Championship in 1993 and '94, has not played since injuring his left wrist and withdrawing from the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, D.C. after reaching the semifinals July 25.
Now ranked No. 20 in the world, Chang opens ATP play against No. 58 Todd Woodbridge. If he wins, No. 8 Yevgeny Kafelnikov awaits in the second round.
Withdrawals
Several players had to pull out of the ATP because of injuries, including popular Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten (arm), the 1997 French Open champion who is ranked 24th. Also withdrawing Friday: No. 6 Greg Rusedski (ankle), No. 18 Thomas Enqvist (foot), No. 26 Francisco Clavet (wrist), No. 40 Marc Rosset (tendinitis) and No. 83 Brett Steven (personal).
By the numbers
The oldest player in the field is Italian Gianluca Pozzi, who turned 33 in June. Pozzi, who last played at the ATP in 1993, is ranked No. 62. . . . Before the qualifiers are determined, the lowest-ranked players in the field are American Alex O'Brien, No. 143, and No. 105 Wayne Black of Zimbabwe. Both received wild cards into the main draw.
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