Molik, McQuillan out in Dubai
Tuesday, 19 February, 2002
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Feb 18 AP -
Australian Rachel McQuillan was bundled
out of the first round of the $US585,000 ($A1.13 million) Dubai Open WTA tennis
tournament today.
McQuillan, a semifinallist at this event last year, lost to Tina Pisnik of Slovenia
6-2, 6-4. The right-handed Slovenian led 5-0 and wrapped up the first set in
33 minutes. "She has a very high forehand which kept on taking me off guard,"
a disappointed McQuillan said. McQuillan took a 4-0 lead in the second set,
but the fired-up Pisnik reeled off the next five games to lead 5-4.
"I pulled my game together at the end. But it was Rachel who helped me
with all those unforced errors," Pisnik said. "This is a perfect birthday
present for me." Earlier Russian Tatiana Panova defeated Australian Alicia
Molik 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.
After sweeping through the first set, the tough Russian had to withstand a comeback
from the lanky Molik before closing off the match in one hour, 48 minutes. Pisnik
will next meet Barbara Rittner of Germany who upset fifth-seeded Iroda Tulyaganova
of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-2 on Monday
Anatasia Myskina of Russian pulled off the second upset of the day when she
brushed past eighth-seeded Henrieta Nagyova 6-3, 6-3.
Rita Grande of Italy came back from one set down to defeat Czech Adriana Gersi
0-6, 6-4, 7-5, earning herself a meeting with fourth-seeded Sandrine Testud
of France, who had a first round bye. Top-seeded Venus Williams of the United
States, fresh from winning a tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, is scheduled to
play her first match Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday's match between
Russia's Anna Kournikova and Selima Sfar of Tunisia.
Kournikova has been visiting the famed Dubai Gold Souk and doing promotions
for her sponsors. Monica Seles of the United States, a winner in the neighboring
Gulf state of Qatar on Sunday, also received a bye into the next round, as did
Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo.