Defending champion Ai Sugiyama of Japan won a tense three-set match against American Corina Morariu to reach the second round of the Australian women's hardcourt championships yesterday. The fourth seed and world number 18, who was runner-up in 1997 and winner last year, beat Morariu 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3.
She now plays Sarah Pitkowski of France, who made fewer mistakes to beat erratic Australian Alicia Molik 6-3, 6-2.
Romania's Ruxandra Dragomir won her first match, beating Ukrainian Elena Taytarkova 6-1, 6-3.
Wang Shi-ting of Taiwan overcame Sylvia Plischke of Austria 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) and now plays second seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the next round of the $108,000 event.
Top seed Mary Pierce of France, ranked seven in the world, took her day off to herald the women's game.
"I love watching men's tennis but nowadays I think women's tennis is much more exciting because there's so much more depth," she said. "There are no easy first rounds anymore. It keeps you on your toes and I think it's more exciting for the public."
First round: A Sugiyama (Jpn x4) bt C Morariu (USA) 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3; S Pitkowski (Fra) bt A Molik (Aus) 6-3, 6-2; R Dragomir (Rom) bt E Taytarkova (Ukr) 6-1, 6-3; W Shi-ting (Tpe) bt S Plischke (Aut) 6-4, 7-6 (7/2); M Serna (Spa x6) bt S Appelmans (Bel) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; E Likhovtseva (Rus x7) bt N Pratt (Aus) 6-2, 6-1; N Dechy (Fra) bt T Panova (Rus) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
