Seles scheduled to return to pro tennis tonight in IGA Super Thrift Classic

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Monica Seles is scheduled to return to professional tennis tonight, facing Italy's Francesca Lubiani in the second round of the $180,000 IGA Super Thrift Classic. <br><br>The

Tuesday, February 22nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Monica Seles is scheduled to return to professional tennis tonight, facing Italy's Francesca Lubiani in the second round of the $180,000 IGA Super Thrift Classic.

The second-seeded Seles has spent almost five months out of the game with a stress fracture in her foot. Lubiani got to the second round by beating Canada's Jana Nejedly6-3, 6-2 Monday night.

In other first-round action Monday, No. 6 Lisa Raymond beat Zimbabwe's Cara Black 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4). "I came out playing extremely well and then fell asleep for a few games," said Raymond, ranked 27th in the world. "I stopped coming to the net and being aggressive. The next thing you know she's coming back and we're in a 21/2-hour battle."

In the second round, Raymond will face Corina Morariu, who downed Kristina Brandi 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 Monday night. Eighth-seeded Sarah Pitkowski of France beat Bulgaria's Lubormoria Bacheva 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1. Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn handled Tara Snyder, 6-3, 6-1,and Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova edged Japan's Shinobu Asagoe 6-4,6-3. Mashona Washington also advanced, beating Taiwan's Janet Lee4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2). Washington won three qualifying matches over the weekend to get into the main draw.