http://www.sportingnews.com/tennis/articles/20020809/420549.html



Capriati troubled by night matches

August 9, 2002 Print it


MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. -- Jennifer Capriati is wary of playing night matches because the court lights affect her ability to see the ball.

Capriati, the No. 2 seed, struggled for more than two hours before beating No. 16 Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in the third round of the JPMorgan Chase Open on Thursday night.

"Maybe I just started rushing a bit. I got thrown off a bit as soon as it was getting dark," she said. "I have problems playing at night. I was shanking some balls on my groundstrokes."

Capriati, who had Lasik eye surgery two years ago, also had trouble picking up the ball in a night match at last week's Acura Classic, where she lost in the quarterfinals.

"I feel like it's wearing off a little bit," she said of the surgery.

At Manhattan Country Club, the light poles are low on stadium court.

"At night, lights can start to become very bright," Capriati said, describing the effect on her vision. "When they're really low like that, it just feels like there's a flashlight on me constantly."

In a more in-depth article, she was also worried about the US Open, as you are obliged to play night matches there too.

Mary Pierce also complained of exactly the same thing at San Diego.

Maybe this Laser surgery thing does have an adverse effect? I was considering it myself, but was kinda worried.

Well I hope Jen does something about it (and Mary too of course!).

I actually had it done 4 months ago, and my only complaint is the night vision. It is harder to see things for me and there is the "halo effect" with lights. I can certainly see a difference...

She should be worried, as the final is now at night, and as a high american seed she'll prob get a night match or two unless she asks not to get them. ack.

Is there anything she can do to improve her night vision in the short term, at least until she could maybe go and get it 'touched up' (not meant to be taken in the wrong way ;))?

I hope the lighting wasn't a huge problem for her this afternoon.

The laser surgery is really giving Jennifer and Mary problems. And Mary got it done 2 years ago :eek:. These players request not to play night matches but tournament organizers still make them play at night :mad:. Last week, in San Diego, Mary was complaining that she couldn't see the balls under the lights so I guess Jenn has the same problem

I hope Jennifer and Mary can get help with their eyes somehow.

Hmmm... that's bad, but is this problem permanent?

It could be permanent, I think it requires correction of some sort. Maybe some shades (aka Natasha Zvereva??)

I just hope it doesn't hamper either's play at the Open.