Dick Norman seems to have carved out a new career for himself by divvying up a tennis court with a doubles partner.
The 38-year-old Belgian is enjoying his most successful Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros this year, becoming the oldest French Open mens doubles finalist in the Open era.
I think there are more people who envy me than people who are saying, Hey, youre crazy. What are you doing playing doubles at 38? Norman said Thursday after he and teammate Wesley Moodie of South Africa beat American twins Bob and Mike Bryan 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the semifinals.
I think today there are more people who are saying, I wish I was still playing and playing a final at the French.
The left-handed Norman turned to doubles this year after a long career playing singles. His best run playing solo at a Grand Slam tournament came at Wimbledon in 1995 when he beat Pat Cash, Stefan Edberg and Todd Woodbridge en route to the fourth round, where he lost to Boris Becker.
I think my name is connected to Wimbledon. Most peoples brain, when you say Norman, they are going to say Wimbledon, Norman said. Its a very long time ago for me. I still remember everything, but its like a previous life.
In his new life, though, Norman is back to making another great run at a Grand Slam tournament.
By the way he moves, it feels like hes 18, Moodie said of his teammate. There are a lot of older doubles players doing well. I think its just unusual that hes 38 and just now hes focusing on doubles this year, which I think can be quite amazing, actually.
Norman and Moodie will play Lukas Dlouhy of the Czech Republic and Leander Paes of India in the final.
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THANKS BORIS AND ANNA: With a second all-Russian French Open final coming up, Svetlana Kuznetsova credited both former President Boris Yeltsin and Anna Kournikova with the rise of the game back home.
Kuznetsova, who joined top-ranked Dinara Safina in the final by beating Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 Thursday, said Yeltsin pushed tennis in Russia by getting people to play.
Then came Kournikova.
Doesnt matter (that) people dont like her. Doesnt matter that they say she never won a tournament, Kuznetsova said. I still think she did amazing.
They made such a big deal about her not winning a tournament. For me, she was (a) top 10 player. She played semis, I think, of Wimbledon. She was very tough. She was No. 1, I think, in doubles. She had an unbelievable achievement.
Kournikova was a four-time WTA Tour finalist, but never did win a title. She reached the 1997 Wimbledon semifinals in her debut at the All England Club, and earned two Australian Open doubles titles with partner Martina Hingis.
Its a lot credit (to) her for doing this for Russian tennis, Kuznetsova said.
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NINE IN A ROW: Womens wheelchair player Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands was awarded her ninth straight World Champion trophy in Paris this week.
The 27-year-old Dutchwoman was unbeaten in 2008 for the fifth consecutive year, collecting 12 singles and 12 doubles titles.
Shingo Kunieda of Japan won the mens award for the second straight year. Kunieda was undefeated in 40 singles matches last year, winning seven titles. He also won five doubles titles.
