Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Amy Frazier beats teen Marion Bartoli.

FROM THE BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC – The ability to win the big points is what separates the women from the girls. With the ascendance of 17-year-old Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon earlier this month, it was briefly forgotten that in large part, the teens are not ruling the WTA Tour week in and week out.

In fact, experience still maters a great deal, which is why on a hot Thursday in Palo Alto, the likes 31-year-old Amy Frazier beat 19-year-old Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 7-6 (7-0); 25-year-old Francesca Schiavone beat 23-year-old Jelena Kostanic, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2) and 28-year-old Lindsay Davenport beat 24-year-old Lioudmila Skavronskaia 6-1, 6-1.

Schiavone says that quality is essential and is often more important than years of knowledge, but does a teenage Patty Schnyder brutalize a 31-year-old Nicole Pratt, 6-3, 6-2 like the 25-year-old version does, or does she have claw her way through a three-setter?

"Experience can help a lot, but being more talented is very important. But on the big points, it helps to know what to do," Schiavone said. "She played great. I didn't perfectly organize my game, but I won the important points."

Add to the veteran mix 28-year-old Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, who will play the 24-year-old Venus Williams in the quarters, and 30-year-old Maria Vento-Kabchi, who will play Schiavone.

One might say that the depth on the women's tour belongs to those who can legally chug margaritas at Palo Alto hot spot, compadres.

Ron Cioffi/tr.net

Jelena Kostanic couldn't prevail over veteran Francesca Schiavone.

The lefty Kostanic had a load of chances against Schiavone, but was unable to cash in on two break points at 5-5 in the third set and then missed three sitter forehands in the tiebreak. Give credit to the Italian though, who moved the ball around nicely and cranked up her serve, nailing on at 115-mph.

"I might need another five to 10 days to feel completely good on hard courts but I'm coming along," Schiavone said.

Frazier was amazed at the power and depth of Bartoli's ground strokes, but was under whelmed by the Frenchwoman's poor serve. What's remarkable about Frazier is that she comes right out and talked about her limitations. "My game is pretty one-dimensional so, if it's not going well, I'm in trouble, the cross-courting powerballer said.

Does Bartoli have a Plan B or C ? "Not really," she said. "People win matches in different ways. If I'm not playing well I try to cut down on my unforced errors to play my way back in, but I pretty much stick the my style."

The intelligent Schnyder enjoyed playing the wily Pratt, who as smart as she is, doesn't have the guns to keep up with a Top-15 player like the Swiss when the lefty is twisting in serves and hooking forehands. "It's nice to know you will have rallies, but she has no real weapons to hurt me so I could get into her backhand pretty good. I'm very happy with the way I served and hit my forehand."

Frazier and Schnyder last faced each other in Charleston, where the Swiss came away the winner in three tough sets. "She very tough and I know I'll have to serve every well and make sure I'm returning aggressive," said Schnyder.

Schnyder husband denied visa; Capriati, Dokic out of LA; JHH still in SD; Maria loses in WTT
For the first time this summer, Schnyder is traveling without her newlywed husband, Rainer Hoffman, who has been denied a visa by the US State Department, reportedly because he was convicted of tax fraud in Germany. Schnyder is hopeful that he will get a visa in time for the US Open. "It's terrible," she said. "But I think it's very possible he will get one for the US Open. We've had to do so much paperwork. We have to figure that out."

WTT

Tennis legend Billie Jean King, Advanta Corp. Vice Chairman Brian Tierney and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova gathered at the Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif. for a World Team Tennis competition.

Schnyder says it's difficult for her because Hoffman helps her with strategy. He's not at a level where he can hit with her, but she's trusts his on-court advice. "Maybe when I retire I can help teach him to play better," she said. "But he loves tennis."

The bright-eyed Swiss says that Hofmann gave up his career in information technology to support her tennis, but still occasionally dabbles in his field. She does not have real "tennis" coach. "We talk a lot on the phone," she said of Hofmann, who she married in December. "It's hard but we can talk about a lot. He gave up everything for me and when I stop playing, I will go where he wants me to go."

Jennifer Capriati and Jelena Dokic withdrew from next week's JPMorgan Chase Open in Carson (LA). Capriati hurt her hamstring while practicing in LA. Jelena Dokic pulled out to get some R&R. … The word on the street is that Justine Henin-Hardenne won't play until Montreal, but she was still on today's acceptance list for San Diego, which she won last year. Don't count her completely out.

Maria Sharapova's one appearance for the WTT Newport Beach Breakers was a smashing success except for one small fact: She fell 5-3 in singles to 15-year-old Nicole Vaidisova. The Palisades Tennis Club was sold out with 2,076 folks rushing in to get a glimpse of the Wimbledon champ. Sharapova gave WTT founder Billie Jean King a Wimbledon T-shirt in appreciation. … Also in WWT, Philly's Lisa Raymond beats dubs partner and NY's Martina Navratilova three times on Thursday night, including a 5-3 win in singles. … Jeff Morrison upset Paradorn Slump-a-phan in LA.