Working into shape

Kournikova wins opening-round match at Cloister Cup

SEA ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- Anna Kournikova, playing her first match in a month, recorded a three-set victory Wednesday in the opening round of the Cloister Cup.

Kournikova, recovering from a tear in her left abductor muscle April 9 at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., beat Maria Fernanda Alves 4-6, 6-4, 3-0. Alves retired after suffering a left thigh injury in the third set.

"It's not the best match I've played," said Kournikova, whose appearance in the United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit event at Sea Island is part of her preparation for the French Open later this month.

"That's why I'm here," she said. "I need to play as many matches as I can."

Kournikova was rusty from the month-long layoff. She double faulted seven times and survived a lackluster performance to advance to Thursday's second round, against Gabriela Volekova.

Down 4-1 in the first set, Kournikova battled back to within 5-4, but lost the next game in deuce to drop the first set. Kournikova lost the first two games of the second set, then rallied to tie it at 4-4 before winning the final two games. She took the first three games of the third set with ease, as Alves tried to play through her injury.

Kournikova argued several line calls. Given a warning for delay of game after going up 5-4 in the second set, she responded by saying, "I'm scared."

Another time, she rolled her eyes at a call, and several times voiced her displeasure with officials rulings.