SAN DIEGO, CA, USA - The first four spots in the round of 16 were up for grabs on Tuesday at the Acura Classic, and four of the Top 8 seeds didn't hesitate even slightly to take advantage, as second round action began at the $1.34-million, Tier I event.
One of the four that advanced was No.7-seeded two-time former Acura Classic champ Martina Hingis, who survived an early test to eventually prevail in straight sets over Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek, 75 62. Hingis, a champion at the La Costa Resort and Spa in 1997 and 1999, looked on as her aggressive opponent fought back from a 5-1 first set deficit to even things up, 5-all; but the Swiss regained the momentum at that critical juncture, tucking the first set away then cruising in the second.
"I was tested right away," Hingis said. "I knew she'd be tough. She's had some great results, but now I know where I stand and I think I'm in a good place."
Since claiming her 43rd career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title in Tokyo this past February Hingis has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent record, winning consecutive matches just twice in six events, reaching the fourth round at Indian Wells and the third round at Wimbledon. With injury cutting her clay court season short, it hasn't been an ideal last few months for the 26-year-old; but she holds high hopes for this summer's hardcourt swing to bring her more successes.
"This is really the first time I've felt like myself on court since Indian Wells. It felt like I was being reborn this year - I haven't felt this good in a long time."
Also winning her opener was No.4 seed Nadia Petrova, who defeated an injury-returned Elena Bovina, 63 75. Petrova ended a three-match losing streak at this prestigious event, having dropped her opening matches here in 2004 (to Elena Likhovtseva), 2005 (to Sania Mirza) and last year (to Anna Chakvetadze).
"Overall, I was happy with how I was able to focus," Petrova stated. "I was happy with the way I was able to turn it around and not lose my service game when I was serving for the match. There are parts of my game that need improvement but I'm just getting back into playing matches after having some time off."
Other marquee names winning second round matches were No.2-seeded Jelena Jankovic and No.5-seeded Marion Bartoli. Jankovic blew past American hopeful Vania King in two easy sets, 63 60; Bartoli fought off two set points trailing 6-5 in the first set then cruised to victory over Japanese Aiko Nakamura, 76(4) 61.
Jankovic and Bartoli are coming off strong showings in the grass court season. Jankovic won Birmingham and finished runner-up at 's-Hertogenbosch; Bartoli was a semifinalist at Birmingham and Eastbourne and then reached her career-first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. The pair of 22-year-olds squared off in the fourth round at the All-England Club, with Bartoli prevailing there in three sets.
While that Top 15 quartet was contesting the second round, 18 women were busy with first round matches, but only nine emerging victorious. Three seeded players were among those playing; No.15 seed Sybille Bammer and No.16 seed Lucie Safarova were straight set winners but No.12 seed Shahar Peer became Sania Mirza's latest upset victim, falling in three sets to the hard-hitting Indian, 63 46 62. The win was Mirza's third over a Top 20 player in the last six days, having taken out Tatiana Golovin last Thursday and Patty Schnyder Friday in Stanford.
The remaining 12 second round matches will all take the court on Wednesday. World No.2 (top seed) Maria Sharapova is among those in play as are four-time San Diego champion Venus Williams and Top 10 stars Anna Chakvetadze and Daniela Hantuchova. (WTA)
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