This Casanova Just Loves Winning

Imagine what it must be like when total strangers burst into song when you walk into a room. Sure, it’s flattering about, say, the first 109 times.

Welcome to Myriam Casanova’s life.

That name, of course, hit a certain note, long before Casanova broke into the top 50 in the world. The 17-year-old from Switzerland smiled when asked about the reaction to her name -- again.

“In America, when I play the juniors, ‘Oh Casanova,” she said in a sing-song voice. “When I came to the tournament office, everybody started singing. Even my father, when he is with me [they say], ‘Are you a Casanova?’ ”

That would be her coach Leo Casanova, who had appeared outside the dining area at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, receiving some good-natured teasing from his daughter, not long after her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Martina Muller of Germany in the first round of the Pacific Life Open on Wednesday.

The first day almost seems reserved for offbeat stories, comeback sagas or chronicles of up-and-coming players. Last year, the first-day story was Russian Maria Sharapova, who won her first WTA match. (Incidentally, the 15-year-old was ousted in the first round on Wednesday, losing in three sets to Samantha Reeves).

Casanova, who will face No. 5-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France today in the second round, has an illustrious camp of helpers. She has been practicing for years with Martina Hingis and is assisted by Melanie Molitor, the mother and coach of Hingis. However, Casanova, with some pride, said she did not need to consult Molitor on the telephone this time because she had previously played Muller.

The hard-hitting Swiss teenager won a WTA title in July in Brussels and recorded a win against Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium in October. Now ranked 49th, she is facing a new set of expectations.

“It’s really getting hard,” she said. “Everybody expects something from me. I just don’t want to lose my good ranking, lose my points. I don’t want to play qualies [qualifying] next year. I want to stay at the same level or better, but not go back.”

Casanova still trains with Hingis but not as much as in the past. Hingis has all but retired, save for an official announcement, and Casanova said Hingis is limited to practice once a day because of her injuries.

“I think it’s a shame she doesn’t play anymore,” Casanova said. “But I think it’s her life and she has to decide what to do. The more you enjoy your life, the more you can’t think about coming back. It’s very hard to come back. Maybe she’ll come back for fun, like Martina Navratilova.”

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Pacific Life Open

*--* Today’s featured matches at Indian Wells. TV coverage begins Monday on ESPN and ESPN2: STADIUM COURT * Amelie Mauresmo, France, vs. Myriam Casanova, Switzerland * Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain, vs. Alexandra Stevenson * Antonella Serra Zanetti, Italy, vs. Jennifer Capriati * Daja Bedanova, Czech Republic, vs. Lindsay Davenport

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