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 Play held up by rain Tuesday Graf brought to tears by Wimbledon return
Posted: Tuesday June 23, 1998 11:05 AM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Just being back at Wimbledon was enough to bring Steffi Graf to tears. A year ago, the seven-time champion was in rehabilitation after reconstructive knee surgery. Two months ago, her comeback threatened by more injuries, she considered retirement. So on Monday, after winning her first-round match in straight sets on Centre Court, Graf was overcome by emotion. Twice during a news conference, she broke down crying. "I get emotional because I don't take it for granted being here," said the German, playing her 13th Wimbledon. "It's just special to be here." After a rain-free opening day, the start of Tuesday's play was delayed by light showers. At 2 p.m. (1300 GMT), all courts remained covered. While tournament officials were hopeful of a break in the weather, more rain was forecast for Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. Graf's tears represented a remarkable display from a player who has rarely expressed her emotions on or off the court. Graf said she was surprised to be on Centre Court, the scene of her greaest triumphs, for the opening match against Spain's Gala Leon Garcia. "It is not common to play the first match on Centre Court unless you win the year before, so I didn't take it as normal at all," she said. "I got really excited and it definitely pumped me up to be playing out there." After some initial nerves, Graf settled dow and beat Garcia 6-4, 6-1, a solid start to her first Grand Slam tournament since the French Open in 1997. After undergoing surgery after the French, Graf didn't return to tournament play untl March. But she was sidelined again with calf and hamstring injuries. That's when she started wondering whether her career was over. "There have been a couple of occasions where it has been really difficult, seven or eight weeks ago was the last time," she said. "I had so many little injuries and every week something else came around." But Graf, who said she now feels '100 percent,' must be considered a title contender. "There is no question it is my favorite tournament and I do feel the grass suits my game and experience does help," she said. "But winning is a long way. That is not as far as I am looking now." Monday was also an emotional day for Monica Seles, the No. 6 seed, who beat Maria Antonio Sanchez Lorenzo, 6-3, 6-4. Seles, who made an inspiring run to the French Open final three weeks ago, said she has been able to concentrate fully on her game since the death last month of her father Karolj from stomach cancer. "It's the first time in a long time, I've had time to focus really on tennis, and I'm really glad for it," she said. While her career was disrupted by her stabbing in 1993 and her father's long illness, Seles said she has never thought of quitting. "I just love the game way too much and I wouldn't be thinking of stopping at all at this point," she said. "For the rest of my career, I just want to win the most Grand Slams that I can." One player Graf and Seles won't have to worry about at Wimbledon is 17-year-old Russian star Anna Kournikova. Kournikova withdrew from Wimblebon on Monday with torn and sprained ligaments in her right thumb - an injury she suffered during a fall in the third set of a victory against Graf at Eastbourne last Thursday. Kournikova, a semifinalist last year, has been the focus of the buildup to this year's tournament in the British media, which has dubbed her the "Lobbing Lolita." "I was hoping a miracle could happen ... but this morning when I woke up, it was very difficult for me to move the finger," she said. "It's a very tough decision for me to make. I was really ready and in great shape." The woman's top seed, 17-year-old defending champion Martina Hingis, was scheduled to play her opening match Tuesday on Centre Court against Lisa Raymond. In other featured women's matches, Jana Novotna, last year's runner-up and No. 3 seed, was up against Sandra Kleinova. And No. 6 Venus Williams faced Jana Nejedly. On the men's side, No. 2 Marcelo Rios was due to play Francisco Clavet. Fourth-seeded Greg Rusedski, No. 5 Carlos Moya, No. 6 Patrick Rafter and No. 9 Richard Krajicek were also scheduled to play. Two men's seeds were eliminated on opening day. No. 7 Yevgeny Kafelnikov lost to Australia's Mark Philippoussis, 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 6-2, while No. 10 Alex Corretja was ousted in straight sets by Justin Gimelstob. Kafelnikov, winner of a Wimbledon warmup event in Germany and one of the pre-tournament favorites, killed his chances byserving 22 double faults. Top-seeded defending champion Pete Sampras eased through his first match with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, while 1992 champ Andre Agassi was a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 winner over Spain's Alex Calatrava.
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Steffi Graf (right) has a new appreciation for playing at Wimbledon 