Wednesday, August 09, 2000
Success hasn't spoiled Kuerten
Brazilian keeps sense of humor, zest for life
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — Gustavo Kuerten continues to be a breath of fresh air, treasuring the moments each day for reasons that have little to do with his tennis success.
“For me, everything I have is important, even to wake up,” the Brazilian said. “I think I'm fortunate just to be healthy and also to have the physical ability to do the thing that I like, play tennis.
“Everything I have, I try to be satisfied with, and I try to dream of more things I can do.”
The 23-year-old leads the ATP Champions Race. He has won two French Open titles (1997, 2000). He finished last year ranked No.5.
Yet he remains unchanged.
Kuerten is a smiling fixture in the players lounge, joking with his peers. He likes to play golf when his back is feeling well. He enjoys going out to dinner and exploring the cities in which he plays. Kuerten said he ventures over to Kings Island to play arcade games. “I'm afraid of the roller coasters,” he said, laughing.
He remains appreciative and cordial with fans and pleasant and accessible to the media.
“The way people look at me is different,” he said. “Maybe if I walk over here five years ago, nobody would recognize me, and now they come and take pictures.
“But my life's still the same. I look at myself and see myself as skinny every day. The only thing different is my hair is growing. I hope people look at me just as ugly as I am.”
Kuerten still lives with his family in Brazil — though he has an apartment near the beach for when he wants to get away and relax. His mother keeps his clothes laundered and prepares his breakfast. Why move out?
“It's easy,” he said with a smile. “I have a good life.”
His only car came from winning the French Open. Kuerten also remains close to his 20-year-old brother Guilherme, who has a form of cerebral palsy and to whom he gives his championship trophies.
When Guilherme was hospitalized in December with pneumonia, Kuerten spent a lot of time by his side. This year, Kuerten said, he expects to start a foundation that will benefit handicapped children in Brazil.
Since he burst onto the scene at Roland Garros at age 21, Kuerten has become a top-25 fixture.
He is the No.4 seed at the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati and today faces 35-year-old Gianluca Pozzi in the second round. Kuerten already has appeared in the finals of three Tennis Masters Series events this year, winning in Hamburg. He is 6-2 here.
“I'm playing well, especially these last two years,” he said.
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