By Chris Davies
March 10 2003

Top-seeded Kim Clijsters and 2002 champion Daniela Hantuchova advanced to the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open after struggling through their straight-set wins Clijsters, who lost to Serena Williams in the 2001 final of the tournament, withstood the challenge from Francesca Schiavone to win 7-5, 6-4.

Hantuchova, who upst Martina Hingis for her only title so far last year, won her eighth match without a loss at Indian Wells by beating Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

"I just love playing out there so much," Hantuchova said. "I really enjoy every second I can be there. Hopefully I will get many more matches out there. She came out playing really good tennis in the first set and I really had to step up my game, really fight. In the second, I felt like I was in control of the match and I finished it well."

Chanda Rubin, Ai Sugiyama and Nathalie Dechy also won. Eighth-seeded Rubin, who won two titles last year, rolled into the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Jelena Kostanic of Croatia. Dechy, the 15th seed, ousted Silvia Farina Elia of Italy, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Sugiyama the winner of Scottsdale last week advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 10th seed Magdalena Maleeva, and Emmanuella Gagliardi, a semifinalist last year, was a 7-6 (3), 6-0 winner over Cara Black. She next plays Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez, who beat Germany's Barbara Rittner 0-6 6-3 6-3.

Also Amanda Coetzer gained revenge on Lisa Raymond from her ST Jude Classic Final loss 2 weeks ago by thrashing her 6-0, 6-3.


Results

15) Nathalie Dechy (FRA) d. (17) Silvia Farina Elia (ITA)
3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Emmanuelle Gagliardi (SUI) d. Cara Black (ZIM)
7-6(3), 6-0
(8) Chanda Rubin (USA) d. Jelena Kostanic (CRO)
6-1, 6-3
(3) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (27) Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)
7-6(4), 6-2
(21) Ai Sugiyama (JPN) d. (10) Magdalena Maleeva (BUL)
6-4, 6-3
(1) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (31) Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
7-5, 6-4
Conchita Martinez (ESP) d. Barbara Rittner (GER)
0-6, 6-3, 6-3
(16) Amanda Coetzer (RSA) d. (18) Lisa Raymond (USA)
6-0, 6-3


Order of Play

Stadium: not before 12.30 pm
Dementieva vs. Capriati

Not before 6.30pm:
Bovina vs. Davenport

Stadium 2: 10.00 am
Mauresmo vs. Serna