By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 18 2004

Bulgarian Magdalena Maleeva defeats Mary Pierce from France. She needed two set 6-4 6-4. In the first set both players had problems holding their service game. There were seven service breaks in the first set alone. Mary Pierce started off breaking Maggie Maleeva’s first service game converting the third breakpoint. Holding her own serve Mary Pierce leads 2-0 but Maleeva breaks back after winning her serve, equalizing for 2-2.

Pierce breaks on 30-40 for a 3-2 lead but fails to hold her own losing it on love, 3-3. Pierce breaks Maleeva after advantage 4-3. Maleeva again breaks back for the equalizer 4 all.

Maleeva serves for 5-4 keeping the points to herself and again she breaks Pierce 6-4 for the 1-0 lead in sets.

In the second set Maleeva had a 4-2 lead before Pierce breaks with a well placed sercvice return on 30-40 for 4-3 and takes her own serve to make it 4 all.

Maleeva also holds her serve and breaks Pierce for 6-4 and the second set.