Mall Will Face Roommate in Junior Semifinal Today

Anne Mall of Laguna Niguel advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open junior girls’ division with a 6-1, 6-2, victory over Ai Sugiyami Friday in New York.

Mall, a 16-year-old graduate of Dana Hills High School, today will play Beth Berris of Lodi, Calif., a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, winner over Joanette Kruger of South Africa.

Second-seeded Karina Habsudova of Czechoslovakia plays fourth-seeded Petra Kamstra of Holland in today’s other semifinal.

Mall and Berris are not strangers. They met in the finals of the Seventeen Magazine tournament in May at Mission Viejo. Berris won, 6-4, 6-4. They also are rooming together in New York.

This is Mall’s first appearance at the U.S. Open juniors and her first trip to New York City.

“I like it here,” she said. “It’s a great atmosphere to be in. After the first day I knew where everything was at the National Tennis Center. It’s neat being around these big-time tennis players.”

After her victory Friday, Mall watched Martina Navratilova defeat top-seeded Steffi Graf, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, to move into today’s women’s final.

Maybe it’s the company, but Mall said, “My whole game is coming together. I’m hitting all my shots really well right now.”