News was spread by Yahoo! - Sports in the latest days that Boris Becker is the only male tennis player considered for 2003 Tennis Hall of Fame enshrinement. This would mean no nominee for Stefan Edberg, even though he retired earlier from professional tennis than did Becker.

The only reason I could think of for such an unfair decision is that, given recent Mats Wilander's nominee, the organism decided not correct to enshrine Swedish players for consecutive years.

There are several reasons for us Edberg's fans to be angry:

As I wrote, Edberg retired earlier from the Tour and, being at least as much of a champion as Becker, we would expect that his entry would be considered earlier than Becker's.

Five years of retirement from professional tennis are required for a former player to be acknowledged this prestigious award. Stefan Edberg retired nearly six years ago, while Boris Becker was still playing and winning matches until 1998, which means he has significantly been on the stage until less than four years ago.

In my opinion, Tennis Fame enshrinement is such a prestigious acknowledgement that it has to be referred, besides than to players' achievements, also to their being an example in and off the court, to their behavior and sportsmanship. In this aspect, Stefan Edberg definitely outclassed Boris Becker.

from Australian Associated Press

SYDNEY. World No. 1 aspirant Lleyton Hewitt yesterday defended himself after his late withdrawal from the Stockholm Open angered organizers, including tennis great Stefan Edberg.

US Open champion Hewitt faces a fine of up to $100,000 from the ATP Tour after pulling out a day after the tournament started, citing a back problem.

The 20-year-old Australian was top seed for the event and had requested last week that his first round match be delayed until today.

However, his coach Darren Cahill rang and told organisers he would not be playing just 10 minutes before they were to send a private jet to collect him from Luxembourg.

translated into English by Mauro Cappiello

These two have fought, but never denigrated. Not a word higher than the others, no adverse feeling confessed, respect above all, at the point that it was uncommon with them that a handshake was not accompanied by a warm embrace. Yes, nothing more than a simple rivalry opposed Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg and it was never better exposed than on the Wimbledon Centre Court where the two men fought for three consecutive years in the final from 1988 to 1990.

Strangely, no other Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open, will put them against each other. At the end of the three finals played at the All England Club, Edberg was the one who came out on top with two wins against one from Becker.