What a great pleasure it was to watch Maria win her first round match
yesterday! I have noticed her success this year, and her game was
good enough to win yesterday. She stayed tough, and won the first
set tiebreak 12-10.

She seems like she's more fit this year; Looked slimmer and was
covering ground better. Her serving was inconsistent, and
suprisingly, her ground strokes were not quite as crisp as I
remember. I hope she brings it up a notch against Serna tomorrow. I
know she can do it, she beat her earlier in the year (on clay).

I don't know how many of her long time fans are still around, but if
she continues like she's been doing this year, she'll convert many
new fans!

Overall a great day at the Open. Watched all the way thru the
Kuerten match....a 5th set tiebreak!!

Have a great day,

Buck