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Preparing for a Grand Slam Triumph - Page 7

© Michael Cecilio

Seeds in her quarter: 7-Serena WILLIAMS, 11-Nathalie TAUZIAT (4R), 16-Conchita MARTINEZ

Her path (a prediction):
1R defeats Barbara Rittner (two sets)
2R defeats Silvia Farina (two sets)
3R defeats Ai Sugiyama (two sets)
4R defeats Maria Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo (two sets)
QF loses to 7-Serena Williams (two sets)

MARY PIERCE (FRA)
1999 US Open Seeding: 5
Current Singles Ranking: 6
Career Singles Titles: 12
Best Performance in a Grand Slam: WINNER - 95 Australian Open
Best Performance at Flushing Meadows: QUARTER FINALIST (1994)
1998 US Open Performance: FOURTH ROUND (lost to V.Williams)

Summer hardcourt season performances
SEMI FINALIST
TORONTO (defeated Dragomir, Huber, Testud; lost to Hingis)
QUARTER FINALIST
LOS ANGELES (defeated Sugiyama; lost to Halard-Decugis)
FIRST ROUND
SAN DIEGO (lost to Sugiyama)

The draw analysis: Surprisingly, Mary has never really done well at the US Open, a tournament where the surface suits her game to a "T". I do think she can put in a solid performance at this tournament, having regained her form by reaching the semi finals of the Canadian Open last week. Her power game is something of a mystery - at the best of times, she can beat just about anybody on the tour, but when her game falls to mediocrity, she can lose to just about anybody. Mary should be happy with the way her draw turned out for her, as she faces no real test until the quarter finals where Lindsay Davenport looms ahead. I don't like her chances against Davenport, as she has lost pretty badly to her the last two times they have played. Davenport also holds a convincing 6-2 career win-loss edge over Pierce. Nevertheless, nothing should stop Mary from reaching the last eight, that is, of course unless Pierce brings anything less than her A game to New York.

Floaters who could trouble her in her section of 16: Sabine APPELMANS, Magui SERNA
Seeds in her quarter: 2-Lindsay DAVENPORT, 9-Julie HALARD-DECUGIS, 14-Sandrine TESTUD (4R)

Her path (a prediction):
1R defeats Sandra Nacuk (two sets)
2R defeats Brie Rippner (two sets)
3R defeats Angeles Montolio (two sets)
4R defeats 14-Sandrine Testud (two sets)
QF loses to 2-Lindsay Davenport (two sets)

AMANDA COETZER (RSA)
1999 US Open Seeding: 6
Current Singles Ranking: 8
Career Singles Titles: 5
Best Performance in a Grand Slam: SEMI FINALIST - 96,97 Australian Open; 97 French Open
Best Performance at Flushing Meadows: QUARTER FINALIST (1996,1998)
1998 US Open Performance: QUARTER FINALIST (defeated Martinez; lost to Davenport)

SEMI FINALIST
STANFORD (defeated Raymond, Testud; lost to V.Williams)
SAN DIEGO (defeated Raymond, Kournikova, Frazier; lost to Hingis)

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