BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- His practice ends. Several kids leap from their seats and rush to the fence. They hold out magic markers, trading cards, notebooks, oversized tennis balls.
Marcelo Rios grabs a pen and starts signing.
A woman in the stands gasps. "He never signs autographs," she says. "He hardly ever does that."
Such is the reputation of the new No. 1 tennis player in the world.
When the ATP Tour computer rankings come out today, Rios will replace Pete Sampras at the top for the second time this year.
The 22-year-old lefty from Chile was No. 10 at the end of last season but has been the most consistent player on the tour this year, winning five tournaments, including three Mercedes Super 9 events. He was No. 1 for four weeks after winning the Lipton Championships in Key Biscayne, Fla., in March. This time, he takes over after not playing for more than two weeks.
"I've been having a great year," Rios said Sunday. "I've been playing good, and if I'm No. 1 it's because I deserve it."
Rios would love to let his play speak for him.
Instead, it is often his actions.
In an article in March called "The Most Hated Man in Tennis," Sports Illustrated termed Rios' behavior "boorish."
He does not always sign autographs, does not always make eye contact, does not always grant media interviews, does not always treat opponents, umpires or tennis officials with any respect. All that and more are mentioned.
"The thing they did in Sports Illustrated, I don't know why they did the interview," Rios said. "They knew what they wanted to put in before."
He goes on:
"I think we're playing tennis here and journalists should write just about tennis and what you do on the court," he said. "I don't know why they go into the private life and try to write things about you. I think they invent too many things."
Back home in Chile, he said, if he goes out one night, it will be reported that he was getting drunk. Whatever makes a good story. "I think there are some journalists who only like to make things worse," Rios said. "That's why sometimes I don't give interviews." On his way to practice Sunday at the ATP Tennis Center, Rios was approached by several kids requesting autographs. He either walked quickly in another direction, shook his head "no," or ignored them altogether.
Kids who know of his reputation came away amused by it all. The innocents looked hurt.
Rios said he doesn't oppose signing, he just doesn't want to do it all the time.
He doesn't care whether he's misunderstood by those who don't know him. While SI quoted a veteran as saying, "Most players despise Rios," he smiled, shook hands and shared some laughs in the players lounge Saturday.
"I'm a calm guy, and I always try to do my best," he said when asked to describe himself. "I always say what I think. I'm a normal guy."
While that might raise some eyebrows on the tour, it is Rios' game that has been causing the most stir. He is 46-9 and tough to beat when his heart is into it.
Rios will not compete at the Great American Insurance ATP Championship until Tuesday or Wednesday. He has a first-round bye and faces the winner of Jason Stoltenberg and Daniel Vacek, who play at 7:30 p.m. today on the Grandstand Court.
Rios may have one of the best paths to the semifinals here.
"I think I've been concentrating all the year and playing each match and each point as hard as I can," he said. "When I'm playing pretty good, I think I have a chance to beat anybody. But the tour's pretty tough right now. If you have a bad day, anybody can beat you."
