Craybas, Harkleroad Win, Serena Up Tuesday at WTA LA
Posted on August 8, 2006
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA -- Four Americans paved their way to the second round of the JPMorgan Chase Open presented by Herbalife on Monday. This Tier II event is the third of five tournaments in the US Open Series.
Bethanie Mattek, Ashley Harkleroad, Jill Craybas and Vania King won their debut matches on the hard courts of the Home Depot Center. Wild card Mattek overthrew Kveta Peschke, 64 64; Harkleroad ousted Yuan Meng, 64 76(4); Craybas eliminated Amy Frazier, 62 64, and California native King advanced when Severine Bremond retired with a left hamstring strain. American qualifier Ahsha Rolle fell, 63 61, to Mara Santangelo.
In the lone all-American battle of the day, Craybas improved her head-to-head record against Frazier to 2-1. The last time the two faced each other in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour competition was five years ago at consecutive clay court tournaments. Craybas won the first meeting at Amelia Island but Frazier took revenge a week later at Charleston. Craybas has never done particularly well in her five appearances here. Last year, she defeated Virginia Ruano Pascual in the first round before running into Nadia Petrova. Her next opponent is either Angela Haynes or Marion Bartoli.
No seeded players were in action Monday. Qualifier Anastassia Rodionova managed a mild upset when she ousted Melinda Czink, 46 63 75. The Russian will next face a tough task in countrywoman Maria Sharapova. Coming off an impressive championship run at San Diego last week, the top seed enters this $600,000 event in top form.
Other Monday winners were Akiko Morigami, Lucie Safarova, Paola Suarez, Ruano Pascual, Elena Vesnina, Julia Schruff and Mariana Diaz-Oliva.
In doubles, No.3 seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama edged Marion Bartoli and Shahar Peer, 64 63. Ana Ivanovic and Maria Kirilenko defeated Liezel Huber and Sania Mirza, 76(2) 62.
Also in action on Tuesday are two-time champion Serena Williams, No.2 seed Petrova, No.3 Elena Dementieva, No.5 Dinara Safina and newly-crowned San Diego doubles champions Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs.
-- WTA
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