Jennifer Capriati: She Laughed, She Cried, She Persevered

Jennifer Capriati and rival Monica Seles, who in 1991 played one of the greatest matches in tennis history

Nice to see Jennifer Capriati looking great as she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame over the weekend in Newport, R.I. Joining the three-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 were Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, Manuel Orantes of Spain, tennis industry executive Mike Davies and wheelchair champ Randy Snow, who was honored posthumously. During Wimbledon, I was telling a coworker how much I had lost interest in the women's game in recent years, a complete 180 from my previous quarter-century of tennis obsession. (Billie Jean! Chris! Martina! Ginny! Tracy! Andrea! Steffi! Monica!) While I initially said the retirement of Steffi Graf marked the beginning of the end, I corrected myself and remembered that the early 2000s era of "Big Babe" tennis -- starring the Williams sisters, the Belgians, Lindsay Davenport and a reignited Jennifer Capriati, who finally lived up to her potential -- was also incredible, but that the turning point really came with the injury-fueled demise of Capriati, followed by the retirement of Davenport, Clijsters (the first time) and then Henin. Today's revolving door of "Number Ones" has got to stop, or I don't think the game will ever be a fraction of its former self. That things have become so bleak makes me appreciate that much more what Jen was able to accomplish -- under more enormous pressure and expectations than anyone playing today ever felt -- in a career most worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.