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 Kournikova shows grace Anna at 18 proves too tough for Mirjana Lucic
Posted: Wednesday July 28, 1999 02:06 AM
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Anna Kournikova has the talent, the speed and the power. Now, still lacking a tournament title, she's seeking the patience and mental toughness she believes is holding her back from being a top player. Kournikova showed plenty of that poise and consistency Tuesday night during a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Wimbledon semifinalist Mirjana Lucic, who provided Kournikova with a perfect example of the pitfalls of lacking patience. "She tried to hit the ball really hard and make winners, and I was patient enough with my shots," Kournikova said after her first-round victory in the $500,000 Bank of the West Classic. "I'm a much better player now than I used to be. Everybody grows up," said Kournikova, who turned 18 in June. "I'm a more mature player. I'm playing more patiently than I used to. I think I am just still a little bit inconsistent. I have to play like today." Kournikova, seeded sixth, won the first four games of the match and never trailed against a player who was the aggressor throughout the contest but hurt herself with inconsistent play. "I went for too much right away in the points," Lucic said. "I just made too many unforced errors and too many mistakes." While it took Kournikova just 65 minutes to win, Jennifer Capriati needed twice as long to defeat Conchita Martinez on an adjoining court. Capriati rallied to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that began in early evening warmth and ended in a late-night chill. Capriati is continuing a comeback that has included a win at Strasbourg, France, this spring and a round-of-16 berth at the French Open.
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