Precipitation made a shambles of today's schedule. The first two matches of the day were just completed when the deluge began. Raindrops fell for the most of the remainder of the day and evening, never letting up for long enough to allow the blowers to dry the courts so play could resume. All other scheduled play was wiped out.
The longest break in the rain came in the early evening, and the organizers did their best to get in the Jennifer Capriati - Wynne Prakusya match. We were even treated to the rare spectacle of Jennifer and Wynne trying to get in a quick warm-up at mid-court while the blowers were still drying off the outer edges of the court! But just as the public address announcer was introducing the players, another downpour started, sending the fans scurrying for cover once more. At about 9:00, with t
hunder now accompanying the rain, play was officially cancelled for the day.
The unfortunate meteorological conditions mean that, with the exception of today's winners Justine Hénin and Anke Huber, six players will have to play two matches tomorrow. One player may have to play at least three matches: Meghann Shaughnessy is still alive in both singles and doubles. That is, if the rain ever stops. Showers are forecast every day through to the end of the tournament.
Monica Seles, who has played a lot of tennis in the last three weeks, is among those faced with possible double duty tomorrow. Fearful of placing too much strain on her body, she announced tonight that she is withdrawing from next week's tournament in New Haven.
One of the two completed matches was especially significant, since it occasioned the defeat of the #3 seed.
Anke Huber (14) def. Amélie Mauresmo (3), 6-3 6-3
Third round
Court 1
Previous head-to-head: Tied 2-2
The distinction of being the first pre-tournament favourite to bow out this week belonged to third seed Amélie Mauresmo, victimized by a proficient and intelligent performance from 1997 Toronto runner-up Anke Huber.
An interesting confrontation was to be expected here. Mauresmo had established herself firmly among the tournament favourites by destroying Elena Likhovtseva 6-0 6-3 on centre court yesterday, and had beaten Huber twice this year indoors. But the soon-to-retire Huber had beaten Amélie in their only previous hard court contest, at the 1999 U.S. Open, and had told us yesterday that she liked her chances today. Still, few could have anticipated the comprehensive 6-3 6-3 score.
The turning point of the first set came at 1-1, on one of many Mauresmo forehands that sailed long to allow Huber an early break. The exquisite timing Amélie had showed yesterday was clearly missing today. Just after this game ended, a light shower began, delaying the match for an hour. When the rain subsided, Huber continued her clean and confident play, staying in front. The German clinched the first set with another service break, her dynamic forehand return forcing another Mauresmo forehand error,
and it was 6-3. The opportunistic Huber was 4 for 4 on break points today, while Mauresmo was just 1 for 10.
A tactic that was working especially well for Huber, and which she tended to use on important points, was to send high, looping balls to Mauresmo's backhand. The Frenchwoman is not comfortable taking these sorts of balls early, and backed up and off to the side to take a full swing. With Mauresmo out of position, Huber was free to step in and whip a winner into the open court. "I tried to mix it up a little bit," said Huber. Mauresmo also noticed the effectiveness of Anke's changes of pace: "Yeah, tha
t's one of the things that she used a little bit more than she did in the past matches we had together. But I think, of course, changing the rhythm is always good against any opponent."
Huber's only sloppy game came when she lost her serve at 1-1 in the second set. Anke double-faulted for the second time in the game on break point, causing the German to say something mildly nasty at herself in her language. But Mauresmo gave the break right back after another series of inaccurate forehands. Huber took command by breaking Mauresmo again at 2-3: at 30-30 Amélie double-faulted, and Huber again wasted no time capitalizing, this time with a crisp backhand winner. Huber, who had little was
te in her game today, served out the match at love, concluding with an ace.
Just seconds after the match, more rain began to fall. As showers go, this was particularly well-timed: Justine Hénin's routine 6-3, 6-2 win over Amy Frazier at the stadium also ended at almost exactly the same time.
Huber usually has a lot of ups and downs in her matches, so she was justifiably proud of her consistently clean play. "I played well and I'm a little bit surprised I won?. I tried really hard to stay focused, to stay concentrated and try to make the important points as well." Mauresmo gave full credit to Huber's excellence ? "She played a really good match and didn't miss too many things" ? but added that she felt mentally flat. "I wasn't as into it, as intense as I should have been," Mauresmo told a Fr
ench reporter in her native tongue. "I have to play matches like yesterday a bit more often."
While Amélie Mauresmo now moves on to New Haven to look for the missing mental edge before the U.S. Open, Anke Huber now looks a good bet for the semifinal here. She has beaten her probable quarterfinal opponent tomorrow, Amanda Coetzer, six times in nine career meetings, including twice at past Canadian Opens. "Amanda is always a tough opponent," said Huber of the 'Little Assassin'. "You have to really make every shot and play a consistent match. I think I beat her once here at this tournament, so ho
pefully I can do the same. Like I played today, I just tried to play my game and be aggressive and that's it." Of course, it's possible that qualifier Jennifer Hopkins could beat Amanda in a rain-delayed third-rounder tomorrow. "Hopkins I've never played," confessed Huber. "I just saw her playing here a little bit."