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Steady Capriati advances American trying to keep focus despite rout after rout
PARIS (Reuters) -- Jennifer Capriati cruised through to the last 16 at the French Open on Saturday and warned her rivals she is playing better than when she won the Australian Open earlier this year. "I think I feel stronger here," she smiled after crushing powerful Croatian Mirjana Lucic 6-3, 6-1 on the Roland Garros Centre Court. "Physically I feel stronger, I think I am in better shape. It is a different surface, totally different conditions, but overall I think my tennis has improved since then." American Capriati, the No. 4 seed, lost her opening service game to love but then turned on the style to overwhelm her Croatian opponent. Lucic was simply unable to match Capriati's accuracy in overcast, windy conditions, slumping to defeat in 51 minutes. Capriati, who next faces fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy, the 16th seed, said her confidence was high. "Maybe I'm considered more of a favorite now," said the player who, aged 14, became the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist in the 1990 French Open. "Before [winning in Australia] a Grand Slam always seemed so long and you have to win so many matches. "It's two weeks and you don't know if you can last. But I did it and that is one thing that I don't have to worry about any more." Despite her growing confidence, Capriati characteristically is not getting carried away. "There are so many great players out there still," she said. "I have a chance to win but I am not thinking of myself as a favorite. "I am really happy with the way I have been playing and I have been playing the same way in matches as in practice so that has been good. "But I don't want to look ahead or be overconfident or lose my concentration."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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