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 Monday, August 14
A more mature Kournikova is winning more
 
 Associated Press

MONTREAL -- Anna Kournikova is growing up on the tennis court and that is helping her win some matches.

The 19-year-old Russian relied on experience to help her cling to an early lead and beat challenger Cara Black 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the opening round Monday of the du Maurier Open.

Anna Kournikova
Anna Kournikova says she's not trying as much silly stuff on the court as before.

Kournikova jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first set, holding Black to just two points. But Black rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the second set before falling in the tiebreak.

"My game has matured," Kournikova said. "I'm playing a bit smarter, not trying crazy shots like I used to. I wasn't thinking, 'Oh God, I'm going to lose the set, I'm going to lose the match."'

Kournikova is 152-80 in her career, but has never won a WTA tournament.

"I kind of lost focus after going up 4-0 (in the first set)," Kournikova said. "Cara is a smart player. I guess she didn't get into the match right away, but she was fighting."

Canada's Vanessa Webb blamed a series of mental lapses for her straight-set defeat to Spanish qualifier Virginia Ruano-Pascual, 6-4, 6-4.

"There were just stupid mistakes here and there," Webb said. "I made some easy misses. I'm normally not that erratic."

Webb held or shared the lead through most of the first set. However, Ruano-Pascual broke Webb's serve to jump ahead 5-4.

Webb committed nine double-faults, compared to none for Ruano-Pascual. Webb had 26 unforced errors, seven more than her opponent.

Also on Monday, Nathalie Dechy of France beat Alexandra Stevenson 6-3, 6-4; South African Amanda Coetzer, the No. 9 seed, defeated Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-2, 6-2 and Chanda Rubin, the 15th seed, beat Paola Suarez 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2.

Sabine Appelmans of Belgium beat Jelena Dokic of Australia, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (5) and Jana Nejedly beat American qualifier Samantha Reeves 6-3, 6-3. Appelmans will play Kournikova on Tuesday.

Stevenson, who last year became the first woman qualifier to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, has only 10 victories in 30 matches this year.

Stevenson, 19, has seen her ranking drop to 76 from 36 after her rookie performance at Wimbledon.

The top eight seeds had first-round byes in the event that has drawn 43 of the top 50 players.
 


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