MAHWAH, N.J. (AP) — Monica Seles had enough Sunday to register a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Amanda Coetzer in the final of the A&P Tennis Classic.
However, with the U.S. Open just a month away, Seles — No. 5 in the world — thinks her game still needs some work.
"I wanted to have some big rallies and not take so many chances," Seles said after playing against the 12th ranked player from South Africa. "I want to keep attacking. But it's nice to know you have the ability to rally in your arsenal."
Seles, who recovered from a stress fracture in her right foot from September to March from a stress fracture, also used the exhibition tournament to introduce a new weapon — a one-handed shot.
Normally a two-handed hitter from the forehand and backhand side, Seles has been working on the one-handed shot for some time. She used it several times in her 6-1, 6-1 semifinal victory over Sandra Cacic and advanced to the next to last point with it in the final.
"It was an amazing shot," Seles said of the down the line shot that Coetzer reached but not return. "It was one of those close your eyes and hit it kind of shots."
Seles struggled with her serve all afternoon and had three double faults and five aces. But she only lost service once in disposing of the feisty Coetzer.
"When I was neutral I was terrible," Seles said of her serve. "But when I was in trouble, it was terrific."
Coetzer, who has lost 8 of 9 matches to Seles, agreed.
"I've always struggled with her serve. But it seemed like today she came up with the big serve anytime she needed it," Coetzer said.
Although the match included a number of good rallies between the veterans, Seles clearly dominated. Seles held serve through the first set, broke Coetzer in the second game and closed out the set with a flourish by not losing a point on her serve in the ninth game.
The players began the second set exchanging service breaks. Seles, making her fourth appearance here (she won in 1992), then took over, breaking Coetzer in the third and ninth games. She closed out the match with her one-handed winner and a double fault by Coetzer.
"I'm going to use the next month to play a lot of competitive matches and get in plenty of practice," said Seles, who will also represent the United States in the Sydney Olympics in late September. "I'm not that concerned about the rankings, but I'd like to play better in the grand slams."