By Foster Niumata
She caught the doubles title in 1997 and hauled in the singles crown in a fantastic fight last summer. The last thing tennis tourist Dominique van Roost expected to catch during this third and latest visit to Auckland was a cold.
She blames the long, cool airline flight from
Argentina and the shock of our summer burn on her Belgian blood for bringing on an annoying sore throat within a day of her landing on Tuesday.
Her billets were considering suitable medicine yesterday. Van Roost, the favourite and defending champion of the ASB Bank Classic at Stanley St starting on Monday, saw the funny side.
"That would be good - to start the year positive."
Think conquest, not drug test.
Van Roost was in Buenos Aires for the first time staying with her doubles partner Florencia Labat, a 1996 Classic singles semifinalist.
Van Roost could not see herself living there. The nightlife and not eating dinner before 9 pm were too different for her. She could live in Auckland, but wouldn't, because it is too far from her family.
"This is the end of the world. It's a shame."
What brings her back is success and her billets Rob Taylor, Auckland Tennis' head caterer, and his wife Jan. "They cook too good, even better than a restaurant," said van Roost.
She cooked up plenty after winning the best Auckland women's final in living memory, saving match-points to overcome Italian Silvia Farina, who is also back.
In a year better than expected, van Roost's highlights were being seeded at all four grand slams, touching the top-10 (No 9 in October), beating a ton of good players including Martina Hingis, reaching four other finals, and making the WTA world championship quarters, a bonus. She is now ranked 12.
As her popularity in Belgium has soared, so her mail has multiplied. "I have quite a few young boys sending me letters for autographed cards, sometimes also presents."
Anything like the handcuffs Goran Ivanisevic got at the US Open? "No, no, no, not that far," she laughed. "Flowers, cards, teddy bears, not too many."
Pictured: Dominique van Roost. HERALD PICTURE / MARTIN SYKES
