'Nothing to lose'

Kournikova reaches quarterfinals, will face Venus next

Anna Kournikova endured a long first-set battle with Wynne Prakusya. AP

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Anna Kournikova already considers her appearance in the Bank of the West Classic a success, especially with a quarterfinal match against Venus Williams up next.

Kournikova beat Wynne Prakusya of Indonesia 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic, giving the Russian two victories in the same tournament for the first time in two months.

"No matter what else happens, this is a great step forward," Kournikova said. "A month or two ago I wouldn't have pulled this out."

The top-seeded Williams, playing her first match since losing to sister Serena in the Wimbledon final, beat Meghann Shaughnessy 6-4, 6-1.

"It's always hard to recover after a loss, especially after coming so close," Williams said. "I have to know when it's time to step up, not to revert back to bad habits but to keep ahead with the good ones."

Shaughnessy took a 4-2 lead in the first set, but Williams took control afterward, overpowering the 19th-ranked Shaughnessy in 58 minutes with hard, accurate serves and steady returns.

"I think I was a little bit distracted, but I was able to settle," Williams said. "It seemed like a lot of the points were quick, like she was going for all or nothing. I felt like my shots were very solid."

Shaughnessy upset Williams in the quarterfinals last year.

"That was a great win but I had to start from scratch," said Shaughnessy, who reached the finals in Sydney earlier this season. "I started serving well and returning aggressively but she got a little more rhythm and I started playing defensively."

Williams dropped to No. 2 in the world after losing to her younger sister, Serena, in England.

"I'm trying to get back to that top position," said Williams. "My hope is always to be at the top. I hope to get back there by the fall."

Kournikova advanced past the second round for the first time since the Tennis Masters Series in Rome in mid-May and for just the fifth time in 20 tournaments this season. She beat eighth-seeded Anna Smashnova on Tuesday.

Kournikova survived a first set that lasted nearly an hour and was punctuated by long rallies and inconsistent play. She was 3-of-8 in break points.

"I always play well at Stanford," said Kournikova, who improved to 7-2 in her third tournament at Taube Family Tennis Center. "After practicing in Florida, where it's hot, it feels nice here."

Kournikova is winless in seven matches against Williams.

"I have nothing to lose," Kournikova said. "I'm just going to enjoy it and stay on the court as long as I can."

Lisa Raymond used six aces and three break points to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in three tries at Stanford, beating Marissa Irvin 6-1, 6-4. Yugoslav Jelena Jankovic, ranked No. 262, upset seventh-seeded Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (8), 2-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted 2 hours, 30 minutes.

In doubles action, the top-seeded team of Raymond and Rennae Stubbs defeated Rita Grande and Patricia Tarabini 6-3, 6-1.

 

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