Qualifier Koukalova defeats No. 10 seed Serna.

TeamWTA Pictures
By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 17 2004

(Antwerp) Qualifier Klara Koukalova defeats the No. 10 seed Magui Serna in two sets. The Czech #99 ranked outplayed the #23 ranked Serna from Spain and won 6-4, 6-2.

The 23 year old from Prague in the Czech Republic will celebrate her 24th birthday next week on the 24th of February. Before that event takes place she will have to meet Dinara Safina in the second of the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp Belgium.

Koukalova had a good start and broke Serna’s first serve after holding her own. Being 3-0 up in games she had five breakpoints for a 4-0 lead. Serna finally saved her game serving an ace and forcing Koukalova to hit the net when she returned.

In the fifth game Serna managed to rebreak, she also had a change to break for a 4-3 lead but the Czech held her serve for 4-3. At 5-4 Koukalova held 3 set points ending the set 6-4 after using the second breakpoint.

In the second set Serna had problems to convert the breakpoints she had earned herself. With breakpoints in the first and third game she could have taken a good lead. Koukalova always managed to hold her serve and broke Serna at 2 all on love. After holding her own serve the Czech broke again in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead over the Spanish player from Las Palmas.

Finally Serna let go her resistance and after serving for 5-2 Klara Koukalova broke Magui Serna’s serve again and held three match points at 0-40. At 15-40 Koukalova converted the match point for a place in the second round against Dinara Safina. They will meet at noon on Court no. 1 of the Sport Paleis in Antwerp.

The schedule for Wednesday 18 February will be: Court 1:
Klara Koukalova vs. Dinara Safina

Followed by

Aranxta Parr vs. Kim Clijsters

Followed by

Els Callens vs. Maria Sanchez Lorenzo or Silvia Farina Elia

At 7.30 pm

Magdalena Maleeva vs. Mary Pierce

Followed by

Cara Black / Els Callens vs. Aranxta Parra / Magui Serna

Court 2:

Starting at 12.00 noon

Alexandra Stevenson vs. Julia Vakulenko

Followed by

Iveta Benesova vs. Eleni Daniilidou

Followed by

Cara Black vs. Karolina Sprem.