OAKLAND, Calif. -- Maureen 'Peanut' Louie has begun to realize some of the expectations set after she won 14 national junior titles.
Louie defeated Terry Holladay 6-3, 6-3, Tuesday night in the first round of a $150,000 tournament at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.
The popular Chinese-American player, who learned tennis on the courts across the bay in San Francisco, utilized strong shots and a quicker game against the taller Holladay.
The 24-year-old Louie, a touring pro since 1978, captured her biggest title three weeks ago in Denver, winning $13,000. She then had a semifinal finish in Florida, and the following week reached the quarterfinals at Marco Island.
In an earlier match, seventh-seed Barbara Potter defeated Bettina Bunge of Monaco 7-5, 7-6 (9-7).
Potter led 5-2 in the second set, but lost the next three games. Both players then held serve to force a tie-breaker, which Bunge led 6-3 before losing four straight points. Bunge, after holding serve on the 14th point, hit a forehand volley over the baseline to trail 8-7. Bunge hit a backhand shot into the alley off Potter's serve to end the hard-fought match.
Bunge won this tournament two years ago. Defending champion Hana Mandlikova of Czechoslovakia and top-seed Chris Evert Lloyd will play their first matches later in the week. Lloyd takes on Louie Thursday night.
Earlier, fifth-seed Claudia Kohde-Kilsch of West Germany needed only 55 minutes to breeze by Kim Sands 6-1, 6-2.
One afternoon match was marred by controversy. Tour referee Lee Jackson disqualified Camille Benjamin for not showing up within 15 minutes of the end of the previous match. Benjamin was later fined $500 by the Women's Tennis Association.
Lori McNeil then defeated qualifying loser Lea Antonoplis 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in a surprisingly tough match.
In the second set, McNeil trailed 5-2 but came back to win, largely by charging the net and making passing shots.
Asked if the last-minute switch in opponents bothered her, McNeil said, 'It didn't bother me at all. I just played my basic game, which is to attack my opponent, whoever it is.'
Robin White defeated Laura Gildemeister of Argentina 6-4, 6-3.
The event is sponsored by Virginia Slims.
