LOS ANGELES, 7 November 2003 — Defending champion Kim Clijsters and America’s Jennifer Capriati posted impressive victories at the $3 million WTA Championships on Wednesday.
Capriati overcame a strained right hip and fought off four set points in the second set to take out Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 7-5, 7-6 in Black Group round-robin play.
For her part, Belgian world number one Clijsters whipped Russian Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-2 on the tournament’s opening night in front of 5,281 fans at the 20,000-seat Staples Center in Red Group play.
But fourth seed Amelie Mauresmo was upended 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 by eighth seed Chanda Rubin.
In winning her first match since falling in a titanic US Open semifinal to eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, Capriati played a highly aggressive contest, taking huge cuts from the baseline and powering in big serves when she needed to.
The American had suffered a strained right hip flexor in practice early in the day, but managed to fight off four set points and played a superb tiebreak.
After she shook off an off-the-court backhand pass down the line by Sugiyama at 6-2 she won the contest with a huge inside out forehand. “I’m pretty happy,” said Capriati, who notched her 400th career victory.
“I served really well when I had to and that saved me. I hung in there, fought and tried to be aggressive. I knew she would be tough. Everyone wants to give it all they’ve got at the Masters.
I’ve been working hard, even though I haven’t had a lot of matches.”
Three-time grand slam champion Capriati has won only one tournament this year and has lost 13 three set matches, which is one of the reasons why she is working here with Pete Sampras’ former coach, Paul Annacone, on a trial basis. Her father Stefano and brother Steven have coached Capriati for the past three years.
“I’ve been planning on making some changes for the future and he has some great credentials,” Capriati said.
“At this point, I want to bring out the best in my game. It’s good for me to change things up and get a little different perspective.
“I just want to look down the road and make sure I did everything I could to better my game.”
Because the matches didn’t start until 6 p.m. local time, Clijsters didn’t get off court until almost midnight.
But the top-ranked Belgian was a backboard from the ground and completely suffocated the Russian, committing only nine unforced errors.
“I felt really good,” said Clijsters, who will play Rubin on Thursday.
“I was very consistent and it’s a good feeling to have. There wasn’t a moment I was down and I didn’t make any easy mistakes.”
Down a set and a break, Rubin stepped up her game a notch and beat Mauresmo at her own game, attacking the net.
The two-hour, eight minute win was Rubin’s first victory in her fourth appearance at the Championships.
“She had a lot of speed on the ball and she likes to go for deep shots,” Mauresmo said.
“She can also come in and is not scared to take the opportunity to go to the net.
