[David Barker]

Lina K has beaten A.Kapros of Hungary R1 in New Zealand 7-6 (5) 6-1. First match in 5 months after 04 season dogged with illness and injury. Well done Lina!
The tourny web-site talks of Lina having the pedigree to come back - lets hope so. CONGRATS!!

[Prizeidiot]

HEYA!!!! That's tops. Good on her, I'm so happy she's just been able to play some tennis without injury or passport troubles. Winning is a bonus.

I may have gone wrong backing Dechy to win at the Gold Coast but maybe it'll even out. I'm standing by my tip on the miracle! (Lina to take out her first tournament back)

[Shoulderpova]

Поздравляю с победой Лина

[SilK]

Lina!

I hope she can become the next big Russian in 2005. Together with Kirilenko!
Hope Lina can have a succesful comeback!

[TheBoiledEgg]

Wildcard storms through
Jan 3, 2005
By Dale Budge at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre in Auckland

Russian wildcard entry Lina Krasnoroutskaya stormed past Hungary's Aniko Kapros to record a straight sets 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory at the ASB Classic on Monday afternoon.

Krasnoroutskaya, who won the wildcard into the tournament in somewhat controversial circumstances ahead of Kiwi Shelley Stephens, moved into the second round after a tight first set.

After winning the tie-break, Krasnoroutskaya breezed through the second set in well under half an hour to claim the match.

Both players held serve through the early stages of the opening set, neither really troubled by the opposition's returns despite both being less than dominant servers.

It looked as though Krasnoroutskaya would take the first set after breaking Kapros in the sixth game of the set but the Hungarian bounced back to win the next three games.

Krasnoroutskaya claimed the 10th game but then was broken by Kapros who then served for the set.

But Krasnoroutskaya broke once more and the set went to a tie-break - the first of the tournament.

The Russian claimed the tie-break 7-5 and went one-set up.

She started the second set well, breaking Kapros in the opening game before holding to go 2-0 up. She broke again in the third and held in the fourth before Kapros finally managed to hit the ball over the net to claim the fifth game.

Krasnoroutskaya rounded out the match by breaking Kapros for a third time in the set.

Source: One Sport


well done Lina
now for the next victim
just stay fit and healthy please

[jimbo mack]

i'm really pleased for krasnoroutskaya- she definitely deserves a good start

hope to see her rise up the rankings quickly soon

[Lemonskin.]

Good on her

[Daniel]

Well done Lina

[KV]

Pleasantly surprised. Even though A. Kapros's an up and down player. Didn't expect Lina to win that easily esp. after such a longtime without playing tourneys.

[SilK]

Krasnoroutskaya, who won the wildcard into the tournament in somewhat controversial circumstances ahead of Kiwi Shelley Stephens, moved into the second round after a tight first set.

Can somebody tell me what was controversial about the circumstances?

[Vincent]

Oh yes, that's the way! Congrats Lina! Show us that you are one of the great Russian contenders!

[switz]

Originally Posted by Sil.As.If

Can somebody tell me what was controversial about the circumstances?

i'm guessing it would be a russian who is hardly a draw card for the general public getting a wild card over a kiwi.

definitely better for the tournament to give her a go though. she is probably the best player in the draw playing well.

[Mathijs]

way to go Lina!! , i'm really pleased and happy about this win , hopefully you can go far in this tourney and be able to crack the top 100 again!!!

[Muffin the Mule]

Congrats to Lina

Hope she can stay healthy as she's a Top 20 player at least

[Chunchun]