Stich Grilled Over Neo-Nazi Quote -- Tennis Star Under Fire For Playboy Interview
WIMBLEDON, England - The avalanche of first-week matches continued to churn by at Wimbledon yesterday.
With the top 10 men's seeds - Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and Richard Krajicek - all advancing without incident, yesterday's action among the men seemed headed for a placid denouement until German standout Michael Stich beat Christo van Rensburg 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. In his post-match interview, Stich was asked about controversial comments he made in the German edition of Playboy that was released Thursday.
The magazine quoted Stich about the nationalistic fervor gripping Germany, and his view of the right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis who have been committing violence against foreigners.
According to the magazine, Stich said: "What happened in Hitler's time was terrible, but I can't be held responsible for that," and "Perhaps the right wing extremists have plausible reasons for their actions. . . . Who helps them? Who gives them training or work? Who tells them what they have to do?"
"I never said that," Stich said firmly. "There are things in that that are written in the wrong way . . . taken out of context. I have never sympathized with those people. I never did. And I never will."
Barring an upset, Stich seems headed toward a quarterfinal showdown with countryman Boris Becker, who beat Jakob Hlasek 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.