Capriati coping with the pressure

Kevin Fylan

American fourth seed Jennifer Capriati was feeling fit, confident and totally at ease as one of the French Open favourites after a straightforward first- round win on Tuesday.

Looking leaner than in previous years, the Australian Open champion eased to a 6-2 7-5 win over Frenchwoman Emilie Loit in 65 minutes, playing her way out of trouble when a lapse in concentration left her 2-5 down in the second set.

"Winning the Australian has given me a lot of confidence," Capriati said. "It's made me more eager to win and work hard.

"It's not easy, but if I can maintain my level of fitness and stay focused mentally I don't see myself going backwards."

It has been a long road back to the point where Capriati can be talked about once again as a serious challenger for the French Open.

The 25-year-old's best performance at Roland Garros came in 1990, when she reached the semifinals on her debut in the event at the age of 14.

She made it to the fourth round the following year and the quarter-finals in 1992 and 1993 before the pressures of the multi-million dollar contracts and sky-high expectations led to burn-out and arrest on charges of shoplifting and possession of marijuana.

FIRST GRAND SLAM

Capriati, of course, made a remarkable comeback to win the Australian Open this year, her first Grand Slam title.

In Paris, defeats for Amelie Mauresmo and Venus Williams on Monday, plus the withdrawals of Mary Pierce, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport, have removed a lot of the leading challengers.

Capriati, however, rejected suggestions that the absence of so many leading players would only increase the pressure on her.

"I'm just concentrating on myself," she said. "It doesn't matter to me if other seeded players have won or lost their games.

"I've played in other big tournaments since the Australian Open and I've done well.

"Maybe I've got used to the added pressure. I think I've been playing long enough to be able to make that adjustment.

"And I'm not thinking about being the favourite. It's just one game at a time for me."