There’s No Quit in Kournikova

Anna Kournikova of Russia won 11 consecutive games as she rallied from a 4-1 second-set deficit, defeating Alexia Dechaume-Balleret of France, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, in a first-round match Friday night at the State Farm Evert Cup.

Kournikova, the 16th-seeded player, had to fight through cold and windy conditions as well as a spate of unforced errors.

“I was trying to figure out what I should do,” she said. “I was trying to attack.”

Kournikova next will play American Chanda Rubin, who defeated Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Attendance at Grand Champions Resort was 7,626.

Serena Williams, the younger sister of Venus, withdrew from the singles draw because of tendinitis in her left knee. She still is entered in the doubles competition with Venus.