Coetzer carries on good form in Family Circle Cup

By Chris Davies
April 8 2003

10th seeded Amanda Coetzer, the 1998 champion, came from a set down to reach the second round in Charleston with Serena Williams carrying on her unbeaten run

The 10th seed from South Africa, a tournament winner in Acapulco last month, had to dig deep to defeat Czech Denisa Chladkova 3-6 6-2 6-4.

"I started off quite well I was up 3-1 in the first set and I didn't win another game," Coetzer said.

"But she made a few errors, and all of a sudden the match turned around for me."
Coetzer, the highest seed in action on Monday, is trying to bounce back from a year in which she finished out of the top 20 for the first time in a decade.

In February, she reached the finals in Memphis before winning her first title in two years at the Mexican Open at Accapulco continuing her good run. Then going on to beat defending champion Daniela Hantuchova at Indian Wells very easily.

The top eight seeds, including world number one Serena Williams, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Lindsay Davenport, Daniela Hantuchova received first-round byes.

Qualifier Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar brushed aside Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-1, 7-5 to earn a clash for the second time with Williams after playing her at last years French Open losing 6-4, 6-1.

Results

Vera Zvonareva (Rus) bt Sarah Taylor (USA) 6-2, 6-4

Tina Pisnik (Slo) bt Stephanie Foretz (Fra) 6-3, 6-4

Daja Bedanova (Cze) bt Cara Black (Zim) 6-3, 7-5

Elena Likhovtseva (Rus) bt Janette Husarova (Svk) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3

Dally Randriantefy (Mad) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (Tha) 6-1, 7-5

Maureen Drake (Can) bt Yoon-Jeong Cho (Kor) 6-1, 6-1

(10) Amanda Coetzer (Rsa) bt Denisa Chladkova (Cze) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Tatiana Panova (Rus) bt Melien Tu (USA) 7-5, 7-5

Laura Granville (USA) bt Bethanie Mattek (USA) 6-2, 6-2