Clijsters Unable to Sustain Momentum at Carlsbad

This what-have-you-done-lately business is getting harsh around the tour.

You used to be able to count on the early rounds as resoundingly routine, an advanced workout of sorts. Martina Hingis lost five games in her first match at the Acura Classic, Venus Williams dropped three in hers and Jennifer Capriati only two.

Slowly, very slowly, the pattern is starting to change.

Who would have thought that Kim Clijsters would find herself trying to explain away a loss? A defeat coming days after she won a tournament in Palo Alto.

The fast-rising Clijsters, seeded fifth, hit a stop sign for the first time in weeks, losing in the second round here at the La Costa Resort & Spa on Wednesday. Ai Sugiyama of Japan, ranked No. 48 in the world, defeated the 18-year-old Belgian, 6-3, 6-3, in 61 minutes. Sugiyama was once a top-20 fixture but has been known more for her doubles abilities recently.

Clijsters, who missed an ill-advised drop shot on match point, found herself in some exalted company. Another Sunday champion lost an early match, too, far away in Montreal.

“It’s not only women’s tennis--if you saw [Andre] Agassi, he lost,” Clijsters said. “I’ve played a girl today that I’ve lost to before.”

That was at the French Open in 2000, though. Since then, Clijsters has recorded victories against the likes of Hingis, reached the French Open final in June and beat Lindsay Davenport for the first time, in Sunday’s final.

“I played a few bad games to let her back into the second set, and she didn’t make any unforced errors,” Clijsters said of Sugiyama. “She was running very well. I played the finals on Sunday. I hadn’t practiced on Center Court [here]. It’s a completely different atmosphere, a different tournament.

“Of course, I’m disappointed. But I’m happy with the way I played.”

Sugiyama said she always “feels confident” at this event, and she has recorded victories here in the past against Steffi Graf and Capriati. In today’s round of 16, Sugiyama will play Nicole Pratt of Australia.

Two other seeded players lost: No. 13 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain and No. 14 Amy Frazier. Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic beat Sanchez-Vicario, 6-1, 6-4, in 68 minutes. The slumping Sanchez-Vicario, ranked 18th, has won only two matches since taking a clay-court title at Madrid in May. Qualifier Alexandra Stevenson of San Diego defeated Frazier, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. Stevenson is on a five-match winning streak--which includes qualifying--her longest since reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 1999.

Capriati beat Shinobu Asagoe of Japan, 6-1, 6-1.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, who won this tournament last year, looked sharp in a new lime-green outfit and had little trouble beating Elena Bovina of Russia, 6-1, 6-2.

“She’s a young player and I think she was a little excited playing against me,” Williams said. “When I’m playing a younger player I know where to exploit them. Not that I am old myself. I’m trying to get a free point every now and then too. I think maybe against another she would have put more balls in play.”

Williams successfully defended her Wimbledon title, but a loss to Meghann Shaughnessy in the quarterfinals at Palo Alto meant she slipped from No. 2 to No. 3.

‘Well, being that I’ve won a few Grand Slams, but I’m losing my ranking, I guess I’ll have to play [more],” she said. “I might not go to school but that doesn’t mean I can’t take on-line courses. I actually have a through-the-mail program at this point, but I haven’t been very dedicated to it.”

Williams showed insight into her career when she was asked if she was a tougher or smarter player now after a few years on the tour.

“It’s pretty tough, but I think I’m a little braver at this point,” she said. “I’m willing to go for it. All the champions make something happen, they just don’t wait and hope the next person misses. Once I realized that, I was able to do a lot better. So, I just take more chances and play smarter too.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

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