Tennis: Top seeds see qualifiers as major threat

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Beware the qualifier is very much Anna Pistolesi's catch cry as she prepares to defend her classic title.

While most players in the ASB Classic will step on court for the first time in about six weeks, the four players who come through qualifying have the advantage of having played three matches.

It is no surprise to the top players in this week's tournament that qualifiers have done so well in the past.

The top two seeds, Israeli Pistolesi and Greek Eleni Daniilidou, have drawn qualifiers, as have sixth seed - and a player touted as one to watch - Argentine Clarisa Fernandez, and fourth seed and former winner Anne Kremer (Luxembourg).

"It does make it harder when you play a qualifier," Pistolesi said. "They have the advantage of those early matches."

Why Auckland as her first stop on what promises to be another busy year on the WTA Tour?

"Coming back as defending champion is only part of it," said Pistolesi who, as Anna Smashnova, beat Russian Tatiana Panova 6-2, 6-2 in the final last year.

"I love this tournament. I love Auckland. I first played here when I was only 15."

In that 1992 tournament, she won her three qualifying matches before losing in the first round proper. The following year she lost in the second round of qualifying.

Pistolesi also played the qualifying rounds in 1997 when she beat Meilen Tu, who won last January's event, and Amelie Mauresmo before bowing out in the third round.

In her only other appearance as a seeded player, Pistolesi (the fifth seed) reached the 2000 quarter-finals, losing to American Meghann Shaughnessy.

Her successes this year have meant a lot of time on court.

"I played 29 tournaments and a lot of matches," said Pistolesi, who followed her victory here with wins in Canberra, Vienna and Shanghai en route to a career-high ranking of 16.

With such a heavy schedule - she hopes to cut back a little next year - it is no surprise she does not play doubles.

"I hope to play a little less next year."

And spend more time with her new husband? "I don't know about that. He is coaching three players, so I don't know who will do more travelling."

If Pistolesi can get by her as-yet unknown first round opponent and then the winner of the keenly-awaited all-Russian clash between Elena Likhovtseva and Henrieta Nagyova, she could face eighth seed Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik in the quarters.

While most players are entered in one of three Australian tournaments next week - in Sydney, Hobart and Canberra - Srebotnik has promised herself a week off, if she can reach Saturday's final.

The 21-year-old, who ended the year ranked 36th, is no forlorn hope.

"I have had a good year in singles and doubles," said Srebotnik, who won her second WTA title (in Acapulco in February) and reached the last 16 at the French Open.

"In doubles we got to the [season-ending] championships and at the US Open I played the mixed doubles final with Bob Bryan."

They lost that final to Bryan's twin brother Mike and Lisa Raymond.

Srebotnik joins the chorus in praising the Auckland tournament as a good starting point to her year.

"I feel no pressure here. It is a perfect lead in to the Australian Open. [Tournament director] Richard Palmer is a great guy. He makes all the players feel important. Sure, it is a bit far to come, but when you get here it's a nice, quiet place."

Fifth seed Argentine Paola Suarez, who is here for the third time, echoed those sentiments.

"I like it here. The players are very friendly and the crowds are so knowledgeable," said Suarez, ranked No 1 in doubles and a singles finalist at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre in 2000.

Like the other seeds she is wary of players coming through the qualifying rounds.

"I'm lucky I have avoided that this time," said the 26-year-old who has won two WTA singles and 25 doubles titles. "Coming off a break of five or six weeks makes it difficult."



Unless there is a late withdrawal, Suarez faces qualifying at next week's Sydney tournament.

"The cut-off is 26 and I'm 27th. I'm one out of the main draw."

That seems harsh for a player good enough to reach the French Open quarter-finals where she lost to compatriot Fernandez in three sets.

In opposite sides of the draw, the Argentines would like nothing more than a showdown in the final as a great way to start the year.

Today's schedule::


Today's schedule (all courts start 11am with prefix numbers denoting seeds).-


Centre court: Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) v Henrieta Nagyova (Slovakia) followed by 3-Tatiana Panova (Russia) v Vera Zvonareva (Russia), 4-Eleni Daniilidou (Greece)/Patricia Wartusch (Austria) v Mary Pierce (France)/Paola Suarez (Argentina), Shelley Stephens (NZ) v Laura Granville (US), Martina Sucha (Slovakia) v Meilen Tu (US).



Court four: Renata Voracova (Czech) v Seda Noorlander (Holland) qualifying, followed by Sarah Taylor (US) v Ashley Harkleroad (US) qualifying, Leanne Baker (NZ) v Martina Muller (Germany), Rita Grande (Italy) v Emmanuelle Gagliardi (Switzerland), Alina Jidkova/Panova (Russia) v Jennifer Hopkins/Brie Rippner (US).



Court six: Flavia Pennetta (Italy) v Shinobu Asagoe (Japan) qualifying, followed by Ansley Cargill (US) v Tzipora Obziler (Israel) qualifying, Adriana Serra Zanetti (Italy) v Anca Barna (Germany), Teryn Ashley/Abigail Spears (US) v Kim Grant (South Africa)/Jasmin Woehr (Germany).