2001

VENUS DEFENDS HER TITLE

Defending champion Venus Williams dominated the 2001 Acura Classic as she overpowered Monica Seles, 6-2, 6-3 before a capacity crowd of 6,500 to win her second consecutive Acura Classic title at the La Costa Resort and Spa.

Williams, who was seeded second behind Martina Hingis, served 13 aces and hit 37 winners against Seles, who defeated Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis on her way to the final.

"I know today Monica didn't play her best," Williams said after her victory. "I've played very good here. I was able to play the bigger points well."

Seles, a four-time tournament finalist, said, "Venus just played better today. She was just serving really well and that was tough."

Williams joined Steffi Graf and Jennifer Capriati as the only multiple winners of the Acura Classic.

After the match, Williams was presented a check for $125,000 and the keys to a new, six-speed, 200-horsepower Acura RSX Type-S.

In the doubles final, second seeded Cara Black of Zimbabwe teamed with Russia's Elena Likhovtseva to defeat top-seeded Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

Kournikova, who lost to Australia's Nicole Pratt in a second round singles match, made her first tournament appearance since February when she suffered a stress fracture in her left foot.

Despite her early exit in singles, near capacity crowds packed the stands to watch the popular Russian in her doubles matches with Hingis.

Tournament Notes

• Acura presented Martina Hingis with a Waterford crystal to recognize her career 200th week as the number one ranked player on the Sanex WTA Tour.
• On Tuesday night, members of the San Diego Spirit and the Washington Freedom women's professional soccer teams made an appearance on Stadium Court and teamed with several players of the Sanex WTA Tour for a "soccer tennis" exhibition. Mia Hamm and Kim Clijsters played Julie Foudy and Patricia Tarabini. Also making an appearance were Nicole Pratt and Jennifer Capriati.
• On Thursday, a benefit dinner was held to benefit Andrea Jaeger's Silver Lining Ranch Foundation, which helps children with cancer. The benefit raised $191,370. Later that night, Pam Shriver helped raise an additional $15,000 on Stadium Court for a grand total of $206,370.
• The 2001 Acura Classic, which offered $750,000 in prize money, drew a total of 84,026 tennis fans, a new tournament attendance record.
• Prior to the qualifying rounds, a three-player playoff pitting the winners of the Acura Classic Opportunity tournaments took place at the La Costa Resort and Spa. Kim-Ahn Nguyen of Orange defeated Beau Jones of Encinitas and Anita Loyola of Tucson to gain a wildcard into the main draw. Jones and Loyola received wildcards into the qualifying draw.