Iron stomach
Graf beats illness, outwits Williams; Davenport advances
Posted: Thursday January 14, 1999 09:11 PM
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Graf: "I enjoy being under those situations, I enjoy tight tennis and I feel strong in those moments" AP |
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Steffi Graf was losing a power showdown
against Venus Williams so she changed it to a battle of wits and
won that convincingly, advancing to the semifinals at the Adidas
International Thursday.
Graf gave Williams a lesson reflecting her 21-0 advantage in
Grand Slam titles, overcoming a persistent stomach illness to claim
the final four games in a thrilling 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal
victory.
Graf, who had a record 377 weeks as No.1, meets the current
leader, American Lindsay Davenport in Friday's semifinal. Davenport
beat Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-3.
The Graf vs. Williams contest was shaped by Williams' huge first
serves and frantic attack from both players, but was decided by
Graf's mental strength down the stretch.
"It was a tight situation and I guess I had a better attitude
towards it," said Graf, 29.
"I didn't feel nervous at all. I just wanted to keep putting
pressure on her. I felt she was getting a little tense."
Williams broke Graf twice to lead 4-2 in the deciding set, and
appeared to have bludgeoned the German to the verge of defeat. But
Graf pulled back on her forehand, changing the pace and playing the
ball as deep as possible.
"I definitely wanted to come up to the net more but my legs
wouldn't get up there, I couldn't convince them," said Williams.
Truth is she was pinned back and outplayed by a serene opponent.
"I don't feel under pressure," Graf said. "I enjoy being
under those situations, I enjoy tight tennis and I feel strong in
those moments."
Graf repeatedly clutched her stomach and took a tablet for her
illness during the second set. She withdrew from an exhibition
final against Williams in Hong Kong last week because of the
illness but said she was feeling good enough to play.
Davenport had no trouble with No.8 Schnyder. "I was always
going for my shots and it worked today," Davenport said.
French Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario has dismissed her
poor buildup to next week's Australian Open, saying she's confident
of challenging for the title despite a loss to Austrian Barbara
Schett.
Schett will play Martina Hingis in the other semifinal, after
the Swiss world No.2 dismantled Dominique Van Roost 6-2, 6-0.
Schett stunned the No.4 ranked Vicario 1-6, 6-1, 6-0 in their
rain delayed quarterfinal. The start was held up by 68 minutes and
then play was suspended twice, including a 45-minute pause between
the second and third sets.
Scett, ranked 24th, barely missed a shot in the final set after
slipping down 0-40 on serve in the opening game.
Sanchez Vicario lost to Australian teenager Jelena Dokic at the
Hopman Cup last week but denied the defeats were cause for major
concern ahead of next week's Grand Slam tournament.
"At the beginning of the year it's always hard for everyone and
I didn't have as much preparation as I wanted either," Sanchez
Vicario said. "But I feel very confident now, I feel these two
matches here have helped me."
American Todd Martin ended the impressive run of young
Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 in their men's
quarterfinal, seizing the advantage when the 17-year-old was unable
to cope with a line call against him in the final set.
Hewitt was serving at 30-15 and 4-4 in the final when he
disputed a call after Martin played a shot deep towards the
baseline. Hewitt couldn't control his anger or concentration,
allowing Martin to break and serve out the match.
Martin, ranked 16th, overpowered the No.104 ranked player with
his serve in the opening set and led 3-1 in the second set
tiebreaker before Hewitt came roaring back with a series of
spectacular forehands.
Martin will play Austrian Thomas Muster in the semis after
Muster's three-set victory over Australian Jason Stoltenberg.
World No.3 Alex Corretja had a walkover against fellow Spaniard
Albert Costa, who suffered a leg injury and pulled out of their
match with Corretja ahead 6-3, 4-6, 2-0.
The top seed will play defending champion Karol Kucera in the
semis. The Slovakian came back for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over
Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten.
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