Big names battle through

Dokic admits she struggled in the Montreal heat

Wednesday's results

Jelena Dokic, Kim Clijsters and Jennifer Capriati overcame tough conditions to advance in the Rogers AT&T Cup in Montreal.

Third seed Dokic defeated Martina Sucha of Slovakia 6-3 6-4 in sweltering conditions.

It's getting close to the US Open, and I feel it's coming together

Jennifer Capriati

"I got my head together in the second set, but I didn't feel comfortable," said Dokic.

"I still have to get used to the heat."

Fourth-seeded Clijsters defeated Nicole Pratt of Australia 6-4 3-6 6-1 while Capriati defeated American qualifier Sarah Taylor 6-4 6-1.

Tennis round-up in pictures

With top-ranked Serena Williams out of the tournament, Capriati is hoping to win the hardcourt event as a tune-up to the US Open, which begins on 26 August.

"It's getting close to the US Open, and I feel it's coming together," Capriati said.

Capriati will not have to meet Serena Williams

Chandra Rubin, seeded 16th in Montreal, lost to Barbara Schett of Austria, 6-4 6-4.

Ninth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia and 12th-seeded Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic were also eliminated.

Amanda Coetzer of South Africa ousted the lanky Demetieva 6-3 6-3.

Francesca Schiavone of Italy, who reached the main draw when American Meghann Shaughnessy dropped out, beat Bedanova 4-6 6-4 6-2.

Russia's Anna Kournikova made another early exit, losing 7-5 6-1 to Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain.

"Everything was kind of off today," said Kournikova.

"I was moving terribly, I was way too far behind the baseline."

The Russian willl now return to Florida to train ahead of the US Open.

---

Wednesday's results from Montreal (seedings in brackets):

Second round

V Ruano Pascual (Spa) bt A Kournikova (Rus) 7-5 6-1
A Sugiyama (Jap) bt P Suarez (Arg) 3-6, 6-4 6-2
D Hantuchova (Slo, 8) bt P Schnyder (Swi) 6-3 7-6 (7/3)
K Clijsters (Bel, 4) bt N Pratt (Aus) 6-4 3-6 6-1
B Schett (Aus) bt C Rubin (US, 16) 6-4 6-4
L Granville (US) bt S Farina Elia (Ita, 10) 6-2 6-1
J Dokic (Yug, 3) bt M Sucha (Slovakia) 6-3 6-4
A Coetzer (SA) bt E Dementieva (Rus, 9) 6-3 6-3
C Fernandez (Arg) bt N Dechy (Fra) 6-3 4-6 6-4
F Schiavone (Ita) bt 12-D Bedanova (Cze, 12) 4-6 6-4 6-2
J Capriati (US, 2) bt Sarah Taylor (US) 6-4, 6-1
A Stevenson (US) bt T Tanasugarn (Tha) 6-3 5-7 6-4
J Henin (Bel, 5) bt H Nagyova (Svk) 5-7 6-0 4-1 (ret)

Back to top