Seles beats S. Williams in exhibition match

HONG KONG — Monica Seles rallied from two match points down to beat Serena Williams 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (7-1) Saturday in the Nortel Networks Challenge.

The 26-year-old Seles, who won the bronze medal in the singles at the Sydney Olympics, was too strong in the end for Williams in the exhibition match at the Victoria Park hardcourt stadium.

Williams was leading 6-5 in the decisive third set and was leading 40-15 when Seles rallied to take the match into a tiebreaker.

“I just closed my eyes and hit some great shots,” Seles said while describing her dramatic comeback. “I played some great tennis lately.”

Williams, who won the gold medal in the doubles at Sydney, said she “was fighting for every point.”

Both players will compete in next week’s Princess Cup in Tokyo.