Second chance

Seles faces Hingis in Pan Pacific final

Martina Hingis: "Whenever I play Monica it's always real close." AP

TOKYO (AP) -- American Monica Seles defeated Russia's Anna Kournikova in a hard-fought match Saturday to advance to the final of the US$1.22 million Toray Pan Pacific tennis tournament.

Seles had her hands full in the 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Kournikova and will face top seeded Martina Hingis in Sunday's final, a rematch of last week's Australian Open semifinal which Hingis won 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Hingis defeated fifth seeded Silvia Farina Elia of Italy 6-0, 6-4 earlier Saturday.

After breezing through the first set at Tokyo's Metropolitan Gymnasium, world No. 10 Seles, seeded third for this tournament, dropped the second set after falling behind 4-1.

Seles picked up her game in the third set. Leading 4-3, she broke Kournikova with a crosscourt backhand that looked out but there was no call. Seles then held serve in the final game to win the match in 1 hour, 21 minutes.

For Seles, it was her second tough match in two days. On Friday she defeated compatriot Alexandra Stevenson 7-6 (9), 7-6 (9).

"I knew coming in that both opponents would be tough," said Seles. "The court here makes it really hard so I'm just glad to pull through in both matches."

On facing Hingis in the final, Seles said she expects another difficult match. "Whenever I play Monica it's always real close and I'll have to play my best against her."

Kournikova, who is coming off an eight-month layoff due to an injured foot and is 99th in the world rankings, put up a good fight and looked set for an upset after winning the first two games of the third set. But the 20-year-old Russian then lost the next three games and the momentum.

"It was a great match and a tough one too," said Kournikova. "I think Monica was a bit stronger mentally in the third set but I have nothing to be disappointed about. I'm starting to find my game and I'm happy about the way I played in the tournament."

In Saturday's other semifinal, Hingis cruised through the first set and had a comfortable 3-1 lead in the second set. But Elia, 15th in the world rankings, clawed her way back into the match after winning the next three games. Hingis then broke serve in the eighth game and never looked back.

"There were two or three points that just didn't go my way," said Hingis. "I should have won to go up 4-1 but she got a bit lucky and fortunately I was able to come back and break serve in eighth game to take control."

Hingis, currently fourth in the world rankings, is looking to win this event for the fourth time in six years.

"I've been working on my game for three months and all the hard work is starting to payoff," said Hingis, who lost to Jennifer Capriati in the final of the Australian Open.

"I always have a great feeling when I play here. I've had some success in the past and the fans here always seem to be behind me," added Hingis.

 

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