Monica started Amelia Island - her first tournament since Dubai in
February - with a second-round match against Anca Barna. I was hoping
for a mouthwatering match with Iroda Tulyaganova - as at Dubai - but
sadly Iroda lost to Barna in the first round.

Not only was Monica still worried about the stress-fracture in her
left foot, she also had a nasty crick in her neck this week after
sleeping awkwardly on Monday night, and considered withdrawing.

"I really couldn't move it at all. I couldn't practice, nothing. It
was one of those things where you're stuck. You can't look to the
left or right. Instead of going over to Europe and saying, `Gee, my
foot is not doing too good,' I really enjoy Amelia Island, so I
thought this would be the perfect combination. I just really came
down here wanting to get some matches and have a good time."

But Monica gritted her teeth, and not only played but overcame Barna
2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3. It was in the third set that she started to look
convincing. "Either player can win at 5-all [in the tiebreak]."

Wednesday was quite a day for my former-Yugoslav trio, with Jelena
Dokic and Iva Majoli also winning three-setters (Jelena at Amelia
Island, Iva at Budapest).


On Thursday, Monica was on fire as she thrashed 11th seed Nathalie
Dechy 6-1 6-2. She dominated from the start, winning five games in a
row in the first set, and maintaining the fierce pace in the second.
It's a testimony to the greatness of Monica that she can defy a
month's lay-off and continuing injury-problems to put in a
performance like that.


On Friday, Monica ran into top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne, who had
foiled Serena Williams's plans for an unbeaten season in the
Charleston final last week. Henin-Hardenne had beaten Williams 6-3 6-
4, and now she beat Monica 6-2 6-4.

The second set was very competitive, lasting 51 minutes. Monica had a
point to lead 4-3 on serve, but missed an easy volley and was broken.
But Henin-Hardenne still had to work hard to seal her victory. Monica
had a break-point when Henin-Hardenne served for the match at 5-4,
but Henin-Hardenne came up with two big serves.

Overall I'm very pleased with Monica's run at Amelia Island. It was
her comeback tournament, she wasn't fully fit, but still managed a
very respectable performance. Normally a 6-2 6-4 loss to Henin-
Hardenne would be very disappointing, but I'm just very glad to have
Monica back once again.

Photos of Monica:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030418/168/3u8fi.html
(qf)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030417/168/3tzdl.html
(3r)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030407/241/3q73e.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030321/241/3l1xc.html
http://www.wtatour.com/assets/story_image/selespressweb.jpg


In other Selesian news, Akiko Morigami came through qualifying to
reach the second round at Amelia Island (1q Yvette Hyndman 6-2 6-1;
2q Nadia Petrova 4-6 1-0 retired; 1r Evie Dominikovic 6-2 6-2). There
she ran into Daniela Hantuchová - my second favourite player after
Monica - who beat her 6-2 7-5.

SPIKE: Dani bagged a Selesian? She never told me! Good for her!
Though not from your perspective, I suppose.
BUFFY: I can't believe I invited you into my house.

Photos of Akiko Morigami:
http://www.wtatour.com/assets/story_image/morigamikidsweb.jpg
http://www.wtatour.com/assets/story_image/homebancjuniorchallengeweb.j
pg


Congratulations are also due to María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo for
reaching the semi-finals at Budapest:
1r + Conchita Martínez Granados, 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-3
2r + KLARA KOUKALOVÁ (6), 6-3 6-1 [revenge is sweet!]
qf + Jelena Jankovic (Q), 6-4 4-6 6-3
sf - ALICIA MOLIK (3), 4-6 3-6

Photo of María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo (with boyfriend Feliciano
Lopez):
http://www.wtatour.com/assets/story_image/SanchezLopez.jpg

--
Andrew Broad
http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~broada/
http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~broada/tennis/
http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~broada/tennis/seles/