Kournikova Wins at Hong Kong Women's Challenge

Kournikova Wins at Hong Kong Women's Challenge

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Top seed Anna Kournikova of Russia got a flying start in the new century Wednesday when she overwhelmed Olga Barabanschikova of Belarus in straight sets in the opening day of 2001 Hong Kong women's tennis challenge.

"It was an interesting match for me as it was my first match of the year," world number eight Kournikova, who was mobbed by fans on her way to the post-match press conference, said.

"My timing was a bit off because I had not played since last November. I was not moving very fast. I wanted to come to the net and I came to the net in the second set. Therefore I won."

She won the match in 63 minutes with a score of 6-4 and 6-1.


Kournikova Wins at Hong Kong Women's Challenge

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In the day's other match, 24-year-old American Jennifer Capriati had an easy game when she beat injured Chinese number one player Yi Jingqian 6-1 and 6-2.

After taking the first game in the first set, Yi, ranked 94th now in the world, sprained her waist in the second game when she tried to backhand an undercut. The injury annoyed her in the following games before she gave up the match to defending champion Capriati easily in 55 minutes.

Yi said she would see the doctor before deciding whether or not to take part in the Australian Open later this month.

The four-day invitational tournament features four other world top-ranking star players, including Chanda Rubin, Lisa Raymond, both from the United States, Jelena Dokic from Australia and up-and-rising Russian Elena Dementieva.