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by Beth Knizer
Quarterfinal Friday brought many interesting matches to the Advanta Championships. Headlining the day was the quarterfinal match between doubles partners Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova. (2) Lindsay Davenport def. Amanda Coetzer 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 This match was a true battle of wits between Lindsay Davenport and Amanda Coetzer. Davenport coasted through the first set with ease. The second, Coetzer picked up her game a level while Daveport went astray. The third and decisive set, everything Davenport did clicked and dimunitve Coetzer was totally overpowered. (4) Nathalie Tauziat def. Julie Halard-Decugis 6-4, 6-4 Throughout their singles careers, one would have expected these two French country women to have played other many more times. Their last three meetings were all on grass. The last time Julie Halard-Decugis and Nathalie Tauziat had faced each other on the indoor supreme surface was in 1995, in Philadelphia, Tauziat the victor in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Five years since then, both players have grown into excellent singles and doubles players. Tauziat had reached a career singles rank of #3 at age 32. Halard-Decugis reached a career high #7, just before 2000 Oklahoma City in addition to winning 10 doubles titles (with different partners) and the 2000 US Open with current doubles partner, Ai Sugiyama. Who would have expected, five years later, the outcome of this match was the same as 1995? Tauziat's consistent serve and groundstrokes were the deciding factors in the match. (3) Conchita Martinez def. Holly Parkinson 6-2, 6-0 Young Amercian Holly Parkinson was no match for the topspin backhands and killer forehands of her opponent, Conchita Martinez. Patience was a key factor in holding Parkinson at love in the second set. (1) Martina Hingis def. (6) Anna Kournikova 6-4, 6-0 This was the headline match of the evening. Playing only four doubles matches during the 2000 season, Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova have faced each other on three seperate occasions in singles, twice in the quarterfinals (Pan Pacific and Hamburg) and most recently in the finals at Moscow. The only win for Kournikova had been in 1998 at the German Open. Kournikova's fall indoor season has been extremely successful. She had reached the finals in Moscow, semifinals in Luxmembourg and Leipzig and the quarterfinals in Zurich. However, previous appearances at the Advanta lead to first round losses in 1996 and 1999. Kournikova, still in search of her first singles title on the Sanex WTA Tour, was having a strong week with her service game and groundstrokes. She came out fighting during the first set. However, Hingis had won the Advanta in 1997 and was runner-up to Davenport in 1999. In addition, to reaching the final of 11 events, claiming her eight title of the year in Moscow, Hingis would not be a pushover during the match. The second set brought back the fighting Kournikova back down to earth, being held at love and the match completed in 51 minutes. In doubles action, defending Advanta doubles champions, Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs were almost eliminated by the young team of Alina Jidkova /Meilen Tu. However, Raymond/Stubbs stuck out the second and third sets for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory. Number one seeded team Julie Halard-Decugis/Ai Sugiyama had similar trouble but outlasted Lindsay Daveport/Kimberly Po in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-3. Finally, the number two seeds Martina Hingis/Anna Kournikova came out, after their opposing singles match, to upend the number four seeded team of Alexendra Fusai/Nathalie Tauziat 6-1, 6-2 during their semifinal doubles match. |