Articles

DENT TORN BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND AMERICA
31 December, 2001

THE gifted son of former Australian tennis star Phil Dent is caught in a fierce tug of war between Australia and the US with both nations wanting him for Davis Cup.

Taylor Dent, 20, took world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt to five sets at Wimbledon and is blessed with a lethal serve and power game.

His loyalties are split between countries – he has both an American and an Australian flag tattooed on his left shoulder.

Australian tennis desperately wants the man whose father formed one of Australia's great doubles combinations in the '70s with John Alexander. However, the Americans are calling fault, claiming Dent as their own because he was born in Newport Beach, California, to an American mother, Betty-Ann. In Sydney yesterday preparing for the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 14-27 where he has been granted a wildcard, Taylor said he was in no rush to make a decision.

"I feel like a rose between two thorns," Dent said at Bob Giltinan's Tennis Centre at North Manly."My heart lies in both countries and I just want to play Davis Cup. "I have made no commitment to play for either country. "My dad had a long history playing for Australia and I have grown up dying to play Davis Cup. "Right now I am an American citizen and could have dual citizenship if I wanted. I don't – but I'm thinking about it. "You could say I'm on a holding pattern for Davis Cup, an American citizen, and keeping my options open to play for Australia in the future."

Dent thinks his father would prefer him to play for Australia but wants him to make his own decision. "Of course my dad has spoken to me about playing Davis Cup but I'm my own person," he said. "He'll leave the final decision up to me and is very confident that I'll make the right choice." "I wear the tat (Australian and American flag) because I am loyal to both countries. "I've grown up the Australian way with Aussie ethics because of my dad and he has been the biggest influence on my career since I started playing when I was an 11-year-old. "But I've grown up in the US because of my mum."

Tennis Australia officials and even Hewitt have spoken to Dent, ranked 106 in the world. They want him to follow in the footsteps of his father, who played 13 ties in eight years and had a 13-6 win-loss record. Hewitt remembers the 1.90m and 88kg Dent's power game and serves up to 231km/h which took him to the wire in a Wimbledon second round five-set thriller last June.

Australia are looking ahead, with Pat Rafter, 29, on the verge of retirement and Mark Philippoussis, 25, coming back from knee surgery. Wayne Arthurs, 30, Scott Draper, 27, and Andrew Ilie, 25, are in line for Davis Cup selection while the new generation is headed by Todd Reid, Raphael Durek, Adam Kennedy and Ryan Henry.

The US Tennis Association is surprised Australia are chasing Dent, claiming the Californian belongs in the Stars and Stripes. "I have great respect for Lleyton and he basically said 'We're here and would love to have you when the time is right'," Dent said. "You never know what may happen in the future."

Dent arrived in Australia on Christmas Day but due to a niggling back injury which has bothered him throughout the year he withdrew from the Australian Hardcourt tournament which started in Adelaide yesterday. For the last week he has been practising up to three hours a day with Sandon Stolle, Michael Hill and James Sekulov and having treatment from physical conditioner Les Gronow.

He will play the Colonial Classic at Kooyong next week before the Australian Open.