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by Beth Knizer
On The Line arrived to the first day of main draw action at the 2000 Advanta Championships, held at The Pavilion on the campus of Villanova University. This is the final year for the Advanta due to the fact the Sanex WTA Tour calendar has been shortened in 2001 (ending at the end of October) and the Chase Championships is being moved to Munich, Germany. Monday First Round Action WC Elena Bovina def. LL Katie Schulkebir 6-2, 6-2 The seventeen year-old wildcarded Russian, Elena Bovina moved with relative ease into the second round by a 6-2, 6-2 score over American Katie Schulkebir. The Russian has matured in her groundstrokes and serve when last seen by this writer two years ago, playing World Team Tennis for the Delaware Smash. Bovina now has a second round date with top seed and number one world ranked Martina Hingis. LL Jennifer Hopkins def. Lila Osterloh 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 In this battle of the Americans, both players fought neck and neck to the end, not really shown by the score. Each had their lapses in concentration, but Hopkins's three rounds of gritty qualifying to enter the main draw was the deciding factor in the match. LL Renata Kolbovic def. Q Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian 6-4, 7-5 A match played by two lesser known players, it showed brilliance of one deserving to be in the first round. The 16 year old Swiss, Mikaelian has played under the shadows of her more familar country women, Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder. She undertook three tough rounds of Advanta qualifying to reach the main draw. A definite one to watch for the future. The Canadian Kolvovic has had an up and down year, with a curent W-L record of 16-25. Much of her success this year has been in the ITF Fut ures events. Kolbovic has a tough second round opponent, Conchita Martinez. Julie Halard-Decugis def. Q Greta Arn 6-1, 6-1 Frenchwoman Julie Halard-Decugis had relatively little problems with disposing of her young German opponent in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. In the last two matches of the day session, seventh seeded Amanda Coetzer def. LL American Erika De Lone 6-2, 6-3 and in first round doubles, Jidkova/Tu def Arn/Washington 6-3, 7-6(8). During the evening session, local gal Lisa Raymond, despite having momentary lapses of concentration, fought off her young German opponent 6-4, 6-4. During her press conference, Raymond expressed her disappointment of the Advanta tournament moving to France. She said, "It's an added bonus for me to play at home." She also stated she'd play an additional week, just to play in her own backyard. The final match of the evening, between another set of two Americans, LL Holly Parkinson and Kristina Brandi seemed, on the outset, to be a bit of and easy match for Parkinson, as she won the first set with relative ease at 6-1 and was on her way to a similar score in the second. However, Brandi fought back with her groundstrokes but it wasn't enough, with Parkinson prevailing 6-3 in the second. |