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Still improving Seles wins A&P title to start hardcourt season
MAHWAH, N.J. (AP) -- With the U.S. Open just a month away, Monica Seles thinks her tennis game still needs some work. Seles, ranked fifth in the world, had enough going for her Sunday to register a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Amanda Coetzer in the final of the A&P Tennis Classic. "I wanted to have some big rallies and not take so many chances," Seles said after playing against the 12th ranked player from South Africa. "I want to keep attacking. But it's nice to know you have the ability to rally in your arsenal." Seles, who from September to March of the past year was recovering from a stress fracture to the right foot, also used the exhibition tournament to introduce a new weapon -- a one-handed shot. Normally, a two-handed hitter from either the fore or backhand, Seles has been working on the one-handed shot for some time. She used it several times in her 6-1, 6-1 semifinal win over Sandra Cacic and advanced to the next to last point with it in the final. "It was an amazing shot," Seles said of the one-handed shot down that line that Coetzer was able the reach but not return. "It was one of those close your eyes and hit it kind of shots." Seles struggled with her serve all afternoon and had three double faults and five aces. But she only lost service once in disposing of the feisty Coetzer. "When I was neutral I was terrible," Seles said of her serve. "But when I was in trouble, it was terrific." Coetzer, who has lost 8 of 9 matches to Seles on the women's tour, agreed. "I've always struggled with her serve. But it seemed like today she came up with the big serve anytime she needed it," Coetzer said. Although the match included a number of good rallies between the two veterans, Seles clearly dominated. Seles held serve through the first set, broke Coetzer in the second game and closed out the set with a flourish by not losing a point on her serve in the ninth game. The two players began the second set by exchanging service breaks. Seles, making her fourth appearance here (she won in 1992), then took over breaking Coetzer in the third and ninth games, closing out the match with her one-handed winner and a double fault by Coetzer. "I'm going to use the next month to play a lot of competitive matches and get in plenty of practice," said Seles who will also represent the U.S. in the Olympics in late September. "I'm not that concerned about the rankings but I'd like to play better in the grand slams."
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