Seles Braces Herself for Rematch With Huber

Monica Seles might, finally, have maneuvered herself into position to play a difficult match at the U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Seles defeated Yone Kamio of Japan, 6-1, 6-1, Saturday to set up a fourth-round match against Germany’s Anke Huber. Huber, seeded 11th, defeated Russia’s Elena Makarova, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Huber has been the only player to give Seles any trouble since she returned to the tour at the Canadian Open, even though she lost in straight sets.

“This is different because it’s a Grand Slam,” Seles said. “But I know that Anke hits very hard both sides. I expect a very tough match.”

In Toronto, Huber chose to match Seles’ power. Knowing that Seles feasts on pace, Huber was asked about the tactic.

“If I hit it [more slowly],” Huber said, “I can just look behind me for the ball. That’s where it will be.”

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For the first time here, Seles wore a rubber brace on her left knee, which has been troubled by tendinitis. Although she practices with the brace, Seles had not worn it during a match.

“I felt this morning and yesterday was a little bit more sore, especially in the wide shots,” Seles said. “My dad said she [Kamio] is going to play a lot of cross-court and short angles, and it wasn’t the best, so I decided to put it on.

“For me, when I play with a knee brace, it takes the pain away. But I feel my mobility is not good.”