Win Reflects Well on Seles

INDIAN WELLS — It’s easy to forget that Monica Seles’ trip to greatness included some missteps as a 15-year-old. Not many, to be sure, but one tough loss was against Chris Evert in the fourth round at the U.S. Open in 1989.

The scene was an Evert love-in because her retirement was imminent and a nervous Seles won only two games.

“That was a tough one,” Seles said. “I didn’t want to be the person--God forbid I beat her.”

Thursday, the racket was in the other hand, so to speak. Seles was the legend, facing a promising teenager playing her first WTA tournament, Maria Sharapova of Russia.

The score was the same, only this time in favor of Seles. She defeated the 14-year-old, 6-0, 6-2, in 59 minutes in the second round of the Pacific Life Open at the Tennis Garden. Seles saved two break points in the opening game and went on to take the first seven.

“She played great,” Seles said. “I’ve seen her game. I knew she was going to be a tough opponent, and she’ll have a fantastic future.”

Seles laughed when asked if the grunting, slightly built youngster reminded her of herself. “Oh yeah, definitely,” she said. “We look alike. I was as skinny as she is.”

Sharapova, who turns 15 in April, was earnest about her experience.

“I’m going to remember this for the whole life of mine,” she said. “The match today was unbelievable. I felt good about it. It’s not just juniors, it’s pros. I think I handled it pretty well.”

Evidently Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam winner, made a distinct impression on Sharapova as a child.

“When I was 6, everyone was talking about Monica,” Sharapova said. “I told my grandmother, ‘I’m going to be her [Seles] someday.’”

Seles noted that Sharapova’s game looks a lot like Lindsay Davenport’s. Which makes sense because Davenport was once coached by Robert Lansdorp, who is now coaching Sharapova.

“Davenport didn’t play like this when she was 14,” Lansdorp said. “I think [Sharapova] played extremely well. It’s just a matter of time. She has got to get a little faster, stronger and put some more weight on. This match for her opened her eyes.”

Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis pulled out of doubles play--Hingis was said to have tendinitis of the right wrist--but Martina Navratilova was at the heart of another stir, criticizing the tournament’s policy toward animals.

Navratilova, who is playing doubles with Natasha Zvereva, said that her Jack Russell terrier, Sophie, remained in her hotel room. Apparently this was not Sophie’s choice.

“It’s my family,” Navratilova said. “If I couldn’t bring my dog to a tournament, quite frankly, I would go somewhere else.... It’s tyranny of the minority.”

WTA rules say that animals are not allowed in the player restaurant or locker room, and must be restrained by leash or carrying case.

Navratilova was incensed, she said, when a security guard called her dog a pollutant.

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