Anna advances

Kournikova takes opener in Aussie Open tuneup

Anna Kournikova, shown here in a file photo, beat Cara Black 7-6 (6), 6-2 to open the 2002 season. Jeff Gross/Allsport

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- Anna Kournikova won her opening match Tuesday while top-seeded Angeles Montolio and defending champion Meilen Tu were eliminated at the ASB Bank Classic.

Kournikova, coming back from a foot injury and still seeking her first WTA title, beat Zimbabwe's Cara Black 7-6 (6), 6-2 in this $140,000 tuneup for the Australian Open. Kournikova next faces seventh-seeded Amy Frazier.

Montolio of Spain was beaten by Alina Jidkova of Russia 6-3, 6-1. Tu, seeded sixth, lost 6-3, 6-2 to Selima Sfar of Tunisia.

In another upset, Kristina Brandi downed fourth-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain 7-6 (5), 6-3. Martinez is returning from an Achilles' tendon injury and was playing her first tournament since Wimbledon.

"Obviously, it's going to take a long time to get matches in and get some confidence back," Martinez said.

Eighth-seeded Mariana Diaz Oliva of Argentina lost to Silvija Talaja of Croatia 7-6 (5), 7-5 while second-seeded Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia and fifth-seeded Tatiana Panova of Russia advanced.

Kournikova trailed 4-1 in the first set, then the Russian regrouped to make it 6-6 and take the tiebreaker. Black's serve betrayed her in second set, and she gave Kournikova no trouble.

"I tried to play more consistent," Kournikova said. "It was really important for me to win that tiebreaker. Once I won that first set, I was kind of more relaxed and was hitting the ball more and playing more aggressive."

Sfar, ranked 82nd, is the best tennis player Tunisia has produced. She said she had to leave her country when she was 13 to improve her game.

"There were no players, either boys or girls at all," she said. "So I used to play a lot against the wall."

Related information
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.