Mauresmo, Capriati and Clijsters win

By Chris Davies
May 21 2003

Amelie Mauresmo, Jennifer Capriati and Kim Clijsters were among the second round winners all in different contrasts with Monica Seles withdrawing due to a foot injury at the Italian Open Masters, Rome

Mauresmo played Russian's Lina Krasnoroutskaya easily claiming the first set 6-2 with the second set going to a tie-break which the number four seed struggled throughout but Krasnoroutskaya's serve started to desert her double faulting 9 times and at crucial times.

Capriati the 5th seed cruised through her match which on paper could have been more difficult than expected. The Colombian Fabiola Zuluaga gave the American little difficulty with her topspin shots and brilliant clay court game. Zuluaga was infront in the second set after breaking Capriati's serve but immediately broken back to hand victory to the former French Open champion who has not won a title for 18 months.

Kim Clijsters thrashed her way past Virgine Ruano-Pascual 6-1, 6-0 putting behind her German Open final loss to compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne on Sunday. Clijsters showed no signs of her injury that she sustained in that match making winners from all over the court using her power and precision to win through. Clijsters will be out to avenge Serena Williams this week and also to keep the world number 2 position, to do so she must at least make the semi-finals.

Monica Seles who has previously won this tournament was forced to withdraw after a reoccuring foot injury which has forced her to withdraw from major tournaments this year. Seles played Nadeja Petrova the Russian qualifier, she started well in the first set winning 6-3 then it was clear that Seles was in danger falling 4-1 down in the second set then deciding to retire.

Seles hopes to be fit for the French Open and is determined to make it. Perhaps because it is her last year on the tour and wants to play all her favourite tournaments one last time.


Second Round Results:

(4) Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) bt Lina Krasnoroutskaya (Rus)
6-2, 7-6 (7-5)

(17) Patty Schnyder (Swi) bt Barbara Schett (Aut)
6-4, 6-2

Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) bt (12) Eleni Daniilidou (Gre)
6-3, 6-2

Nadia Petrova (Rus) bt (10) Monica Seles (USA)
6-3, 4-1 ret

Cara Black (Zim) bt Laura Granville (USA)
7-5, 1-6, 6-4

(7) Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) bt Magui Serna (Spa)
7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-4

(8) Anastasia Myskina (Rus) bt Maja Matevzic (Slo)
6-2, 6-3

(5) Jennifer Capriati (USA) bt Fabiola Zuluaga (COL)
6-3, 6-4

Tina Pisnik (SLO) bt (5) Magdalena Maleeva (BUL)
4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Conchita Martinez (SPA) bt Emmanuelle Gagliardi (SUI)
6-4, 6-3

(16)Ai Sugiyama (JPN) bt Dinara Safina (RUS)
6-0, 2-6, 6-4

(11)Anna Pistolesi (ISR) bt Flavia Penetta (ITA)
6-4, 7-6

(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt Virginie Ruano-Pascual (SPA)
6-1, 6-0