Mauresmo advances after scare in Slovakia

Ap
Wednesday 20 October 1999 00:00 BST
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Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France survived a first-round scare in the Eurotel Slovak indoor tournamentin Bratislava, Slovakia on Wednesday, beating Hungary's Rita Kuti Kis 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France survived a first-round scare in the Eurotel Slovak indoor tournamentin Bratislava, Slovakia on Wednesday, beating Hungary's Rita Kuti Kis 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Mauresmo struggled with her nerves against the 88th-ranked Kuti Kis, with the Australian Open runner-up saying her first-set loss was a "little stupid."

"It was tough, but I came out of it very happy after all," said Mauresmo, ranked 11th in the world.

Mauresmo, who has struggled this year with injuries, picked up her rhythm and coasted to an easy victory in the second set.

The 20-year-old Frenchwoman will play Barbara Rittner of Germany in the second round Thursday. Rittner beat Miriam Oremans of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-5.

Slovakia's Karina Habsudova, seeded sixth, also advanced to the second round, beating compatriot Ludmila Cervanova 7-6, (7-4) 6-4.

In second-round matches, second-seeded Nathalie Dechy of France beat Lilia Osterloh of the United States 6-0, 6-2; seventh-seeded Barbara Schwartz of Austria edged Adriana Gersi of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2; and Olga Barabanschikova of Belarus defeated Lubomira Bacheva of Bulgaria 7-5, 6-4.

Kim Clijsters of Belgium led Czech player Sandra Kleinova 7-5, 3-1 when Kleinova withdrew because of an injury.

First round ResultsAmelie Cocheteux, France def. Rita Grande, Italy 6-3, 6-2.

Amelie Mauresmo (1), France def. Rita Kuti Kis, Hungary 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).Barbara Rittner, Germany def. Miriam Oremans, Netherlands 6-3, 7-5.

Second roundNathalie Dechy (2), France def. Lilia Osterloh, United States 6-0, 6-2.Kim Clijsters (8), Belgium def. Sandra Kleinova, Czech Republic 7-4, 3-1 w.o.Barbara Schwartz (7), Austria def. Adriana Gersi, Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2.

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