This match promised to be a good one with the #7 seed Testud taking on #20 ranked Van Roost. In six previous meetings, dating back to 1990, Testud had a 4-2 advantage winning both their matches played on hard courts. When I got to the match, Van Roost was up 5-2. In what would be a competitive next game, Testud would have three break chances to get the match back on serve. Van Roost fought back and took the set 6-3 in 42 minutes on her first game point.

Testud quickly got into trouble on her first service game of the second set. After a rally consisting of mainly loopy topspin shots, Van Roost sneaked into the net to dink a soft volley for a 0-30 lead. Van Roost would waste two break points before Testud held serve with a backhand passing shot down the line. Van Roost would hold at love to even the set at 1-1. Testud's frustrations would begin in game three as a Van Roost lob hit the baseline much to the Frenchwoman's amazement. A series of unforced errors would give Van Roost the first break of the second set. The players held serve for the next two games. Van Roost connecting with her forehand and Testud showing off her willingness to get to the net to finish off a point. Testud earned her first break of the match in the sixth game. Van Roost would blow a game point with a double fault. On Testud's first break point, Van Roost hit a net cord that just dribbled over the net. At this point, Testud seemed to wonder what she could do right. However, on her third break point Testud leveled the set when after an extended rally Van Roost's backhand floated wide. Van Roost dropped her racquet to the court. She found herself down 15-40 on her next service game, fought back to deuce but gave Testud the lead when a backhand volley landed in the net. Testud held serve and took the second set 6-3.

Van Roost would surrender her third consecutive service game with a double fault to start off the first set. Testud would throw in a double fault of her own during her first service game. At 15-40, Testud again spent some time arguing a line call. Van Roost would break back with another close line call that sent Testud's eyes rolling to the back of her head. Van Roost's serve continued to be AWOL with Testud standing well inside the baseline on any second serves. The Belgian would double fault to 0-30. The next point would be another "line painter" for Van Roost. Instead of arguing another call, Testud decided just to scowl at the linesperson this time around. A third consecutive service break (thanks to another Van Roost double fault) gave Testud a 2-1 lead.

During this changeover, the trainer was called to the court. It was announced that Van Roost was in an "evaluation period" but after some minor conversation it appeared that she was given something to swallow down and the trainer quickly scooted off the court when "time" was called. Testud would win her next service game at love. Van Roost would hold her next service game after four consecutive breaks. Testud would once again hold easily for a 4-2, one break advantage. However, Van Roost's serve (or lack thereof) would rear its head again in game 7. Two more double faults would give Testud an insurmountable two break advantage in the final set. Another easy Testud service game gave Testud the match in just over two hours, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In summary, Testud was too solid today. The Frenchwoman just hung in there waiting for Van Roost's assault of forehands and serve to go awry. Van Roost, in her first match back after an illness, simply seemed to run out of steam. Testud next faces Amy Frazier in a second round match on Wednesday.

One did not know what to expect going into this match. Though the #8 seed Schett should have been considered a heavy favorite her conditioning and "match toughness" were certainly a question mark. The Austrian withdrew from recent events in Hannover and Oklahoma City due an abdominal pull and failed to hold serve once in her doubles match on Monday. On the other side of the court, there is Holly Parkinson and the major question mark there is at the end of the sentence: Who is Holly Parkinson? Well, the WTA released a tidbit of information on Parkinson (who is absent from the 2000 Media Guide). Parkinson is a 21-year old hailing from Tampa, Florida and currently enrolled at Brigham Young University. She is currently ranked #106 and entered the main draw after victories over Rita Grande, Tina Krizan, and Tatiana Panova in qualifying rounds.

After the first four games it appeared we would not be seeing much more of Parkinson in Scottsdale. The American quickly fell down two service breaks. The opening game jitters would soon cease and we would soon see a contest of who could hit their forehand harder. Parkinson would start connecting with her forehand while Schett's started spraying long and wide. Parkinson would hold her next two service games while earning both breaks back from Schett's serve for 4-4. Schett got back on track on her next service game and then would easily break Parkinson to take the first set at 6-4.

Parkinson had no intentions of going away in the second set, breaking Schett's first service game. Schett would ultimately earn the break back thanks to a Parkinson double fault to even the match at 4-4. But again, Parkinson would crumble in the late stages of the set. Perhaps exhausted in keeping up with a Top 20 player, Parkinson double faulted three times in her final service game to give Schett the match at 6-4, 7-5.

Despite the loss, Parkinson was an impressive player. Unlike several players that I have watched ranked outside the top 50, Parkinson has a weapon that can do some damage on the tour. Her forehand was a consistently strong shot. It appears that Parkinson's weakness right now might be the mental side of her game. At crucial stages in today's match she simply crumbled under pressure. Schett certainly had the forehand down as well and was able to rise to the occasion when it was offered. She was clearly helped by her opponent today. Schett could face a stiff challenge in her next match with a potential match-up with the unseeded Monica Seles. Seles first must get past Silvija Talaja in her first round match scheduled for Wednesday.

Following Monday's Davenport/Kournikova teaming, another intriguing pairing drew the crowds to Stadium Court this afternoon. The wildcard teaming of Americans Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati were enough to send the crowds cheering as the players walked onto the court. The established and fairly successful team of Testud/Rubin were clearly not who the fans would be supporting today. Seles/Capriati received a wildcard into the doubles draw and why not when the first time they teamed up together they won the tournament. That tournament, the 1991 Italian Open, was definitely a whole different world for Seles and Capriati. Seles, 17 at the time, and Capriati, a mere 15 years old won Capriati's sole doubles title on her resume.

On paper, Testud's and Rubin's double prowess should have been enough to win them the match over their more inexperienced opponents. But someone did not tell this to Seles and Capriati. What they did was simply overpower Testud and Rubin with their serving ability and return game. In fact, neither Seles nor Capriati would lose their serve during the match.

It goes without saying that Seles and Capriati are not a traditional doubles team. It has been well documented that Seles simply is not comfortable at the net. As one would witness, in any of Seles' doubles appearances she prefers to stay back on the baseline. During most Seles service games, a rally would inevitably ensue between Seles and her baseline opponent, leaving their net counterparts mere spectators. Occasionally, Capriati would effectively poach into one of these rallies for a winner.

If anything, Testud/Rubin did not effectively exploit Seles during the times that she was playing the net. Though clearly awkward at times, Seles deserves credit for the fair share of winners she did have while up there. Seles and Capriati kept their undefeated doubles record intact with a surprisingly easy 6-2, 6-1 victory over Testud/Rubin in 55 minutes. A good win, but the reward is a quarterfinal match against Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce.

Alexandra Stevenson, who received the last main draw slot after Venus Williams's withdrawal, had a busy day of tennis on Monday. Stevenson played three matches, one singles and two doubles. Her morning started with a qualifying doubles loss with partner Alicia Molik. Stevenson went on to her scheduled night match versus Jennifer Capriati losing in straight sets (6-3, 6-0). Lastly, she unexpectedly found herself in the main doubles draw as "lucky loser" and had to play the second night match. If Capriati was not intimidating enough, Stevenson would have to face Hingis/Pierce in the first round of doubles. A long day of tennis ended when the #3 seeded team prevailed 6-4, 6-2.

The reason for the Stevenson/Molik team being "lucky losers" was anything but lucky for Caroline Vis. The doubles specialist suffered a wrist injury during a fall while practicing with partner, Patricia Tarabini. Nevertheless Vis, currently ranked #19 in doubles, seemed to be in good spirits outside the player's lounge despite the soft cast on her wrist. Vis is expected to be off the Tour for approximately four to six weeks.

As many of you may know, there is no longer a changeover after the first game of a set. There is certainly a learning curve for everyone. Fans want to push their way into their seats. Ushers do a good job explaining the new rule, but often seem to forget that they can let people through no matter what the score is at the end of a set. Alas, the players do not seem entirely used to the new rules either. During their doubles match, Anna Kournikova went to get water after the first game. She turned to ask doubles partner Lindsay Davenport if she wanted one, but Davenport was already headed to the other side of the court. Kournikova quickly chugged some water and caught up with Davenport, who asked, "Are you used to this no changeover thing yet" but then diplomatically added, "I'm not."

Thanks to her win last week in Oklahoma City, Monica Seles moved back into the top 10 after falling down to #13. However, the State Farm draw was done based on the previous week's ranking leaving Seles unseeded. Curious, I asked the on-site WTA staff when this "event" last occurred. Well, they might want to change the phrase "once in a blue moon" to "the last time Seles was unseeded" -- it was nearly 11 years ago at the 1989 French Open!