Testud Advances
January 30, 2001
By K.P. Hong
TOKYO (AP) -- Fifth-seeded Sandrine Testud of France advanced to the second round of the $1.19 million Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament Tuesday by beating American Kristina Brandi 6-0, 6-4.
Ranked 42nd in the world, Brandi had an error-filled first set before finding the range with some good serves and winners in the second set. But by then it was too late to turn the tide.
``I had more of a tough time in the second after winning a pretty easy first set,'' said Testud, the tournament's runner-up last year to Hingis. ``I just lost a little bit of my concentration in the second set and she came back with some good winners while I made a few mistakes.
``But it's the first match on this surface, which isn't easy, so I'm pretty happy about the match today.
``I came here last year for the first time and went through to the final. ... I am happy about the way I've been practicing the last few days, and today it was a good start. But the draw is pretty tough and I have to watch the next match,'' Testud added.
Testud is drawn to meet Hingis in the quarterfinals.
``I'm really enjoying it here in Tokyo, except that it was snowing the day I arrived, so it was a big difference coming from Australia,'' the Frenchwoman said.
In Melbourne, Testud reached the third round.
