Two Americans score significant wins

PALO ALTO (U.S.), JULY 25. Two American upstarts with dreams of joining the new wave of women tennis stars scored significant victories in the $535,000 Palo Alto Bank of the West Classic.

American Kristina Brandi crunched Hungary's Rita Kuti Kis 6-0, 6- 3 and Meghann Shaugnessy eliminated Belgian Phenom Kim Clijsters 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 on Monday.

U.S. veterans Chanda Rubin and Amy Frazier also advanced to the second round. The No. 8-seeded Rubin registered a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Columbia's (U.S.) Fabiola Zuluaga, and No. 10 Frazier beat compatriot Lilia Osterloh 6-3, 6-3.

The tournament's top seed is two-time defending champion Lindsay Davenport. Wimbledon champion Venus Williams - who was a runner- up here to Davenport the past two years - is seeded No. 2. The event has already been hit by the withdrawal of three seeds. French Open champion Mary Pierce pulled out with a flu, Jennifer Capriati withdrew with a muscle strain and Serena Williams decided not to come because of scheduling difficulties.

The results:

Kristina Brandi bt Rita Kuti Kis 6-0, 6-3; Meghann Shaugnessy bt Phenom Kim Clijsters 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Chanda Rubin bt Fabiola Zuluaga 6-4, 6-2; Amy Frazier bt Lilia Osterloh 6-3, 6-3; Cara Black bt Erika de Lone 6-1, 6-4.

- Reuters & AFP

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