NEW YORK (AP) Mirjana Lucic of Croatia won a main-draw U.S. Open match for the first time in 11 years Tuesday, beating Alicia Molik of Australia 7-6 (5), 6-1.
The 28-year-old Lucic was ranked as high as 32nd in 1998, but she left the tour for several years and hadn't played in the U.S. Open since a first-round loss in 2002. She is currently ranked 150th and had to go through qualifying to make it into this year's tournament.
In 1997, at age 15, Lucic won her very first WTA event, in Bol, Croatia. When she won that championship again in 1998, Lucic became the youngest player to successfully defend a WTA title.
Lucic would go on to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in 1999. She also teamed with Martina Hingis to win the 1998 Australian Open women's doubles title.