Six Americans through to 32 at Nasdaq-100 Open

Nasdaq-100 update
By Etienne Stekelenburg
March 23 2003

The Russian No.11 of the WTA ranking Anastasia Myskina was defeated by Sarah Taylor of the United States. The 21 year-old wild card holder from Bradenton, Florida surprised the Doha title owner Myskina 7-5 6-4 in one hour and 33 minutes. Sarah Taylor will be next up against Ai Sugiyama of Japan.

Ai Sugiyama, the 17th seed from Kanagawa, Japan won her match against Marat Safins little sister Dinara Safina in three sets 3-6 7-5 6-2.

The Russians lost yet another player from the schedule while Jennifer Capriati defeated Anastassia Rodionova who lives both in Tambov, Russia and Mulheim, Germany. The 6th seed American won in two straight sets which were interupted by rain twice 7-6 6-2.

Rodionova just didn’t want to give up the first set just like that and fought her way through for a tiebreak which broke her spirit for the second set after Capriati won the tiebreak.

Capriati said she raised the level of her game in the second set and would have won a third if she had lost the tiebreak in the first set. ‘Rodionova played well but in the tiebreak I played better, I played a little smarter than her’ Capriati added.

Capriati who had trouble with her eyes earlier this year said that both eyes were recovered to pretty much 100 percent, she only needs to wear glasses and go for check-ups, she said.

Venus Williams didn’t have any problem getting to the next round by defeating Shinobu Asagoe from Japan in two sets 6-3 6-1. The number two of the WTA ranking said she was having trouble with her serve. Her toss is not at the right spot and she is not able to execute very well. She will be meeting Emmanuelle Gagliardi from Switzerland in the next round.

Venus’ sister and top seed Serena Williams won her match on Friday against Francesca Schiavone from Italy 7-5 6-1 and is up against Russian Tatiana Panova on Sunday.

Another American who made it to the next round was Meghann Shaughnessy she needed three sets against Alina Jidkova the 26 year-old from Russia who lives in Delray Beach Florida.

The 23rd seed Shaughnessy dropped the first set but got back in business in the second and third. 4-6 6-4 6-3.

The 12th seed American Chanda Rubin got rid of compatriot Carly Gullickson in two straight sets. The 16 year-old lost to Rubin 6-2 7-5.

The next American to reach the last 32 was Laura Granville she defeated the Czech Daja Bedanova in two sets 6-2 6-3.

Magdalena Maleeva made clear that six Americans would be enough for the last 32 in the schedule. The 13th seed from Sophia, Bulgaria Maleeva almost walked over Meilen Tu from California USA putting her aside 6-2 6-1.

Marta Marrero from Spain failed to surpise Mauresmo allthough it took the Frenchwoman three sets to win her match. Mauresmo won the third set tiebreak and the match 2-6 6-2 7-6.

Silvia Farina Elia from Italy left court on a stretcher due to heat exhaustion. Katarina Srebotnik is through to the next round. The score was left at 6-2 3-6 3-4 when Farina Elia handed over the victory.

The Swiss clash between Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian and Emmanuelle Gagliardi ended up in a victory for Gagliardi who defeated her compatriot 6-3
6-2.

Amanda Coetzer the veteran from South Africa lost to Germany’s Marlene Weingartner in 6-1 6-4.