Top-Seeded Jordan Slips Past Yanagi

SAN DIEGO —  Top-seeded Kathy Jordan had service breaks early in both sets and defeated Masako Yanagi of Japan, 6-4, 7-5, Monday in the opening round of the $75,000 Virginia Slims women’s tennis tournament at the San Diego Hilton Beach & Tennis Resort.

Jordan, the 15th-ranked player in the world, took a 3-1 lead in both sets, but in the second set, she fell behind, 5-4, before winning the last three games.

“There’s always a fear lurking of losing in the first round, but I got over that,” Jordan said.

Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Stephanie Rehe moved into the second round with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Adriana Villagran of Argentina Monday night.

In other opening-round singles matches, No. 8 seed Lori McNeil beat Lea Antonoplis, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, and Elise Burgin, the No. 7 seed, beat Vicki Nelson Dunbar, 6-1, 6-0.

In qualifying round matches, Dinky VanRensburg of South Africa beat Pilar Vasquez of Peru, 7-5, 6-2; Laura Bernstein beat Sherri North, 6-3, 6-2; Marianne Werdel beat Claudia Monteiro of Brazil, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1, and Silke Meier of West Germany beat Susan Rimes, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Today’s Scheduled Matches: Stadium Court (10 a.m.): Susan Sloane vs. Camille Benjamin, Hu Na vs. Wendy White, No. 6 Alycia Moulton vs. Debbie Spence, Cari Hagey vs. No. 5 Betsy Nagleson, Jane Forman-Susan Rimes vs. Beth Herr-Alycia Moulton. Court 3 (Noon): Silke Meier vs. Rosalyn Fairbank, Beverly Bowes vs. Beth Herr, Marianne Werdel vs. No. 4 Kate Gompert, Barbara Gerkin vs. Caroline Kuhlman. Court 4 (Noon): Laura Bernstein vs. Elena Reinach, Dinky VanRensburg vs. Jenny Byrne, Cammy MacGregor-Cinny MacGregor vs. Amy Holton-Reinach, Benjamin-Na vs. Caryn Copeland-Pam Whytcross. Night Matches (Stadium Court, 7 p.m.): No. 3 Anne White vs. Melissa Gurney, Gerkin-Terry Holladay vs. Lea Antonopolis-Claudia Monteiro.