Martinez breezes at Sydney Invitational
Posted: Sunday January 10, 1999 11:26 AM
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Martinez had little trouble breezing through the first round AP |
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Spain's Conchita Martinez scored an
easy straight-sets victory over Australia's Rachel McQuillan in
their first-round match at the Sydney International tournament
Sunday.
The No.5 seed won 6-0, 6-3 in one of just two matches on the
opening day of the men's and women's Australian Open lead-in
tournament.
Alicia Molik continued a big week for Australian teenagers when
she upset No. 16-ranked Natasha Zvereva of Belarus 6-3, 6-4.
The 17-year-old's victory followed the impressive run by
Australia's world junior champion Jelena Dokic, 15, who helped the
country win the Hopman Cup team competition.
Molik set up a second-round clash against Swiss world No.2
Martina Hingis.
"I've got nothing to lose, I'm the dark horse -- she's probably
the one with every worry in the world," Molik said. "I've watched
her dominate for so long and it'll be good to see how my game
stands up to hers -- I'll go out there and play the same way I did
today, I think it'll be a good contest."
Molik, who works with former Australian No.1 Nicole Bradtke,
punished Zvereva's second serve time after time, gaining breaks in
the sixth game of the first set and last game of the match.
"What pleased me most was that I didn't let Natasha have a
break point," Molik said. "Natasha's got good flair and a lot of
touch and she can do a lot of good things but I just stayed with
the way I wanted to play, just stay with her."
Eight of the world's top 16 men's players, including Alex
Corretja, Pat Rafter and Greg Rusedski, and 17 of the top 20 women
will play the tournament on Rebound Ace courts. The Australian Open
starts Jan. 18.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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