Arendt Proves Frosting on Cake as No. 2 Seles Breezes to Victory

NEW YORK —  You’re Nicole Arendt, you’ve played college tennis in Florida and you come racket to racket with Monica Seles in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday.

So are you scared?

Not exactly, Arendt said.

“She is a little small,” Arendt said. “I was ready for this big monster to come out there.”

Seles, 5 feet 10 and 120 pounds, doesn’t look too small and had a big debut on opening day. Arendt, celebrating her 22nd birthday Monday, played the part of the candles on her cake and was blown out by Seles, 6-2, 6-0.

Arendt, a four-year tennis veteran at the University of Florida who was off the court in 44 minutes, saw at least one bright spot.

“Now I can really have some fun,” Arendt said of her birthday. “I don’t have to worry about another match.”

In all likelihood, Seles will have several more to worry about. Never able to advance past the fourth round in her two previous U.S. Open appearances, Seles could take back the No. 1 ranking from Steffi Graf if she reaches the final.

Jennifer Capriati, seeded seventh, defeated Eva Pfaff, 6-1, 6-0, in her first-round match.

Graf breezed past Andrea Temesvari, 6-1, 6-2.