GrandSlammed
Feb 28th, 2002, 06:55 AM
Williams Wins Opening Match In Straight Sets, Not Satisfied With Her Game
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By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
February 28, 2002
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Her right ankle taped as a painful reminder, Serena Williams came away from her opening match at the State Farm Women's Tennis Classic unhappy with everything but the outcome.
The 1999 U.S. Open champion, playing for the first time since she sprained the ankle in a semifinal in Sydney in early January, beat qualifier Alina Jidkova 6-3, 6-3 Wednesday night.
Williams, seeded third, served 10 aces, including a 115 mph winner on set point in the first set.
Jidkova broke Williams in the second set for a 3-3 tie and led 40-15 in the seventh. But Williams broke back and broke through again in the ninth game, winning the match with a forehand pass after Jidkova rushed to the net to get a drop shot.
Williams acknowledged feeling rusty and said she would spend Thursday working to improve her game before playing Nicole Pratt in the quarterfinals Friday.
``She (Jidkova) wasn't really good at reaching out wide,'' Williams said. ``She was good at moving the ball around and changing up the pace. She was really good at that, so I think I should have made a few more aces.''
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20020227/capt.1014866948state_farm_tennis_may108.jpg
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
February 28, 2002
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Her right ankle taped as a painful reminder, Serena Williams came away from her opening match at the State Farm Women's Tennis Classic unhappy with everything but the outcome.
The 1999 U.S. Open champion, playing for the first time since she sprained the ankle in a semifinal in Sydney in early January, beat qualifier Alina Jidkova 6-3, 6-3 Wednesday night.
Williams, seeded third, served 10 aces, including a 115 mph winner on set point in the first set.
Jidkova broke Williams in the second set for a 3-3 tie and led 40-15 in the seventh. But Williams broke back and broke through again in the ninth game, winning the match with a forehand pass after Jidkova rushed to the net to get a drop shot.
Williams acknowledged feeling rusty and said she would spend Thursday working to improve her game before playing Nicole Pratt in the quarterfinals Friday.
``She (Jidkova) wasn't really good at reaching out wide,'' Williams said. ``She was good at moving the ball around and changing up the pace. She was really good at that, so I think I should have made a few more aces.''