Second Round Review - Harkleroad's longest day

By Chris Davies
May 28 2003

The second round of the top half produced fantastic matches with Ashley Harkleroad producing the match of her life when beating Daniela Hantuchova in a much hyped second round clash. Serena Williams, Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne also advanced in more easy fashion

Harkleroad found herself 4-1 in first set then the match started to get on a high and stayed that way all throughout until the last ball was hit. The 52nd ranked American battled her way back into the first set which crucially she needed to win for more edge and a bigger advantage over Hantuchova who has never beaten the 18 year old. The first set went into a tie-break with the number 9 seed making far too many unforced errors and Harkleroad producing stunning winners to win it 7-2.

The second set was evenly contested but the Slovakian gained the vital break in the seventh game which helped her win the set 6-4 and take them into a fantastic decider.

The American teen sensation stormed into a 5-1 lead and looked like she was booked into the next round but Hantuchova rallied back to 5-5 looking as if she could steal it from Harkleroad. But the youngster was the more focused player and not making too many unforced errors compared to 100 from the Slovak. Eventually Daniela broke down at 7-8 after winning points to go ahead in the game she started to make errors which the American benefited from winning 9-7.


Justine Henin-Hardenne was not in fantastic form once again winning 6-2, 6-2 with only 49% first serve pecentage and 35 unforced errors. The Belgian's form is less than impressive and does not look like she can go on to win the French Open. She beat Jelena Kostanic from Croatia who had chances to get into the match but her 5 double faults and only 3 winners in the match was nowhere near good enough to challenge the number 3 seed.

Henin-Hardenne next has Dally Randrientfy from Madagasscar and should be where Henin picks up her game and starts showing the rest of the draw she will be tough to beat.

Serena Wililams the top seed carried on her good form sweeping past Swiss Marie Gaineh-Mikaelian 6-3, 6-2 to make it into the third round. Williams made a lot more errors and also double faults but her winning percentage on her serve and also the amount of winners she made guranteed her a place in the next round. The top seed broke the Swiss girl's serve 4 times and was too vulnerable against the power of Serena. At the moment the world number one looks on course to retain her French Open crown.

Other seeds to advance included Chanda Rubin, Ai Sugiyama, Patty Schnyder, Meghann Shaughnessy, Eleni Daniilidou and Laura Granville crushed former champion Iva Majoli advanced but surprise loses for Anastasia Myskina to Petra Mandula and Lisa Raymond losing in straight sets to Flavia Pennetta.

Seeds that crashed out were Anna Pistolesi who was always going to be in a battle with in-form Magui Serna lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Barbara Schett enjoyed a return to form beating last years semi-finalist Clarisa Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

The small countries are making headway in this years French open with the Madagasscar tennis player Dally Randrientefy thrashing Stephanie Foretz 6-2, 6-1 and also Fabiola Zuluaga from Colombia beating Emiilie Loit 7-6, 1-6, 9-7.