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Kournikova Downs Serna in Straight Sets Copyright © 1999 SCN ROME (Wednesday, May 5, 1999) - Ninth seeded Anna Kournikova beat Magui Serna, 6-4, 6-3, on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the Italian Open. The 17-year old Russian is playing her first event since a semifinal loss to Ruxandra Dragomir at the Bausch & Lomb Championships, but appeared to be in a good rhythm throughout the match as she continues her preparation for the French Open later this month. Also on Wednesday, the world's No. 1 player, Martina Hingis, showed little rust in a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Natalie Dechy on the red clay at the Foro Italico. One seed was ousted when Austria's Sylvia Plischke defeated No. 12 Amanda Coetzer 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. Others advancing Wednesday included reigning French Open champion and No. 2 seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, No. 4 Mary Pierce, No. 5 Patty Schnyder, No. 7 Nathalie Tauziat, No. 8 Sandrine Testud, No. 13 Irina Spirlea, and No. 15 Conchita Martinez, a four-time winner in Rome. |