By Etienne Stekelenburg
January 13 2003

Marlene Weingartner from Germany defeats No. 3 seed and defending two times champion Jennifer Capriati 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4. The 22 year-old Weingartner outplayed Capriati using her well-aimed backhand. Jennifer Capriati didn’t get her best serve out against Weingartner in the second and third set. The German Marlene Weingartner was absolutely delighted after her first round victory against the Australian Open title defending Jennifer Capriati. What looked like an easy day at the office for Capriati in the first set turned out to be a disappointment for the 26 year old American.

Statistics show that both players were almost equal to each other with a 1st serve percentage of 65 for Weingartner and 64 for Capriati. Due to her aggressive play and desire to hit winners Weingartner had 52 unforced error against 40 for Capriati. Only difference here is that Weingartner could produce her winners at the best moments when the points really matter. Weingartner won 102 point and Capriati 108.

Capriati had some problems using her service as a weapon, she did produce 10 double faults. Weingartner was constantly trying to attack Capriati’s weak serves with success. The tiebreak in the second set was close but won by the German lean but hard-hitting Weingartner.

In the third set Capriati did face problems from start but she could hold of Weingartner from breaking her serve. Weingartner only scored one out of eight break point conversions. Capriati did manage to equal the score 4-4 after it looked like Weingartner was breaking for the match.

The last services break at 5-4 let to the victory after Capriati got a double fault and was attacked on another weak serve.