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The best players in the world of women's tennis gathered en masse on Centre
Court. A full stadium of fans to enjoy them. Anna Kournikova playing the
evening match in front of that crowded house. Jana Nejedly capping the
evening with a victory for Canadian tennis fans.
It does not get any better than this.
The main draw 2000 du Maurier Open started in style Monday night. Defending
champion Martina Hingis, the No. 1 seed in Montreal this week, was introduced
as were former tournament champions Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Jennifer
Capriati, and the other players in Montreal this week. Lindsay Davenport
and Serena Williams, who played in Sunday's final at Los Angeles, missed
the opening ceremonies which included a welcome speech from Hingis on behalf
of the players.
The main draw 2000 du Maurier Open started in style Monday night. Defending
champion Martina Hingis, the No. 1 seed in Montreal this week, was introduced
as were former tournament champions Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Jennifer
Capriati, and the other players in Montreal this week. Lindsay Davenport
and Serena Williams, who played in Sunday's final at Los Angeles, missed
the opening ceremonies which included a welcome speech from Hingis on behalf
of the players.
Shortly thereafter, Kournikova took the court against Cara Black of
Zimbabwe and came away with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory. "Cara's a smart player,"
said Kournikova, who'll play doubles Tuesday afternoon with Davenport.
"We were both fighting but I finished off the match pretty well."
Nejedly scored a convincing 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Samantha Reeves of
the U.S. to reach the second of Canada's marquee women's championships
for the first time since 1995. There was one minor upset Monday - Sabine
Appelmans ousted Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic in a three-setter
late in the afternoon. Vanessa Webb, Nejedly's Fed Cup teammate, was defeated
by Virginia Ruano-Pascual 6-4, 6-4 in the day's first match on Centre Court.
Sonya Jeyaseelan meets Magdalena Maleeva at 11:00 Tuesday morning with
TSN providing live coverage to tennis fans across Canada. Seeded players
Anke Huber, Barbara Schett and Conchita Martinez are also on the schedule
for the matinee session. Sanchez-Vicario, a winner in La Belle Province
in 1992 and 1994, will play Henrieta Nagyova in the first match of the
evening session on Centre Court (7 p.m.).
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