Coetzer KO's Kournikova

South Africa's Amanda Coetzer defeated Anna Kournikova of Russia in straight sets today to advance to the final of the A-and-P Tennis Classic in Mahwah, New Jersey.

South Africa's Amanda Coetzer defeated Anna Kournikova of Russia in straight sets today to advance to the final of the A-and-P Tennis Classic in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Coetzer, ranked 12th in the world, registered a 6-3, 7-5 victory over 19th-ranked Kournikova, who has never won a WTA Tour event.

In Sunday's final of this exhibition, non-tour tournament, Coetzer will face fifth ranked Monica Seles, a 6-1, 6-1 winner over American compatriot Sandra Cacic.

"We've had some tough matches," Coetzer said of Kournikova. "Her main strength is coming to the net, and maybe I take that away from here with my movement."

Coetzer has a 6-2 record against Kournikova in WTA Tour events and knocked the Russian out in the quarterfinals at this exhibition event last year.

"I competed, I was happy," Coetzer said. "I could have hit a few shots better. "Sometimes I get a little despondent when I lose the first couple of points on my serve, but today I tried to be resilient," she added.

"I wanted to keep attacking on every point," said Kournikova. "If you try to keep the ball in play with Amanda, you will be there all day, so I tried to be aggressive."

Seles beat the 210th-ranked Cacic in 51 minutes. Cacic had advanced to the semifinal match here, but was no match for her friend and neighbour.

"It was difficult," said Seles when asked about playing Cacic for the first time. "We've been friends for 10 to 12 years, but once you step on the court you have to forget all that."

In the doubles semifinal, top-seeded Lisa McShea of Australia and Irina Selyutina of Kazakstan beat Kim Eun-ha of South Korea and Bahia Mouhtassine of Morocco. The winners will face Evie Dominikovic of Australia and Nirupama Vaidyanathan of India in Sunday's doubles final.