Saturday, June 28, 2008

Troubles in homeland worry tennis vet

Troubles in homeland worry tennis vet
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON -- Cara Black is safe now in the traditions and serenity of Wimbledon. Back home, in Zimbabwe, it is far different and far more troubling.

"It's all over the news so I think everybody is aware what's going on and players do ask me," she told The Associated Press. "But every Zimbabwean is in the same situation so it's frustrating, but you've just got to get on with things and hope things will be fine."

Black has been around tennis a long time. She is 29 and a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion. Four titles have come at Wimbledon, including three in women's doubles and one in mixed.

Players approach her at the All England Club and offer sympathies. Black fears the consequences of speaking out about Zimbabwe, where counting continued in a widely denounced presidential runoff. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew, blaming intimidation and physical danger.

Black is reticent to discuss her encounters with longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who for nearly three decades has presided over Zimbabwe, its economy now in ruins.

"It's not safe for me," Black said.

But she is relieved the international community has finally begun an effort to unseat Mugabe and ease the burden of her compatriots.

"It's disturbing for every Zimbabwean. It's just hopefully not for much longer and things will be fine," Black said. "You've just got to keep waiting.

"It's getting better. It's on the way forward now. We've just got to bide a little more time. The world seems to be caring more."

Black is a tennis globe-trotter based in London and gets to her home in the capital of Harare twice a year. In her latest visit, in April, she saw how dire things were.

"You notice the food shortages, you've got to look around for your shopping," she said. "Everybody struggles and is effected by it. Things are tough, nothing's simple.

"You can't just go to the shop and buy some bread or go to the petrol station and get some fuel, but they learn to deal with it. They do deal with it well and they are strong, tough people and survivors."

Black hopes her performances at Wimbledon and the Beijing Olympics in August will provide some relief for a troubled country.

Black and American partner Liezel Huber are the top-seeded pair in the women's doubles, and they advanced to the fourth round Saturday by beating Vania King and Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1, 6-3. Black is also entered in the mixed doubles with Paul Hanley.

"Sport's always a good thing -- it's healthy and it takes your mind off other things," Black said. "It definitely gives everyone a good boost."

Zimbabwe tennis is struggling, but Black accepts that there are more pressing issues.

"There's not enough money involved in the sports and things like that, but a little more interest in equipment and funding could really change that around," she said. "Sport isn't the priority at the moment. ... I think food would be."

Black believes there should be a clear division between sports and politics and has urged the International Cricket Council not to expel Zimbabwe next week at a meeting in Dubai.

"It's not fair that the athletes suffer, but what you can do? It's happened a lot now," she said. "They've just got to wait and I'm sure things will pan out OK."





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