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 No sweat Graf beats Capriati in Lipton Championships
Posted: Friday March 19, 1999 09:52 PM
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) -- The ritual between points has been part of Steffi Graf's game for years: She stands at the baseline, runs a forefinger under her ear to her chin, then flicks away a bead of perspiration. Graf did it only out of habit Friday, because she didn't break a sweat against Jennifer Capriati. Two comebacks collided, and Graf showed no mercy with a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the second round at the Lipton Championships. The rout sent the message that at her best, the 29-year-old Graf is still tough to beat. "That's the best she's ever played against me," Capriati said. "She would beat anybody today, the way she played. That was like her No. 1 days." While Graf has been slowed by injuries for much of the past two years, Capriati, at 22, is perpetually on the comeback trail. Despite a humble 2-4 record in 1999, she claims to have rediscovered the joy of playing. "Right now I feel the best that I've felt in a long time," she said. "What I want out of tennis is not necessarily just winning. I just want to play well and have fun playing well." In other results Friday, Jim Courier earned a second-round match against longtime friend and foe Pete Sampras. The two former Lipton champions will meet Saturday for the 20th time on ATP Tour in a rivalry that dates back to their days as juniors. "It's an early-round kind of appetizer for the fans," said Courier, who advanced by beating Jan Frode Andersen 7-6 (8-6), 6-2. Fifth-seeded Aussie Patrick Rafter beat countryman Andrew Ilie in their first career meeting, 6-3, 7-5. Also winning were No. 6 Tim Henman, No. 7 Richard Krajicek and No. 12 Greg Rusedski. Kenneth Carlsen upset No. 13 Goran Ivanisevic for the first time in their seven matches, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. On the women's side, No. 1 Martina Hingis beat Karina Habsudova 6-1, 6-4, and No. 3 Monica Seles defeated Brie Rippner 6-3, 7-5. Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Joe Fernandez and Chanda Rubin also won. Graf is seeking her first tournament title since November, and based on Friday's performance, she's a threat to upstage such youngsters as Martina Hingis and the Williams sisters. Moving swiftly like one of those teen-agers, Graf won in just 47 minutes. She lost only nine points in the first set. "I'm at my best if I play like that," said the five-time Lipton champ, who is thankful that good health has allowed her to play 21 matches already this year. "I appreciate that a lot. It feels great after having a few years of a lot of struggles, finally to go out there and not have to be worried about everything." At one time, Graf vs. Capriati was a much-anticipated showdown on the WTA Tour. Now they're friendly practice partners, and Friday's match was their first since 1993. Before the injuries that sidelined Graf, Capriati left the tour because of personal problems that included an arrest on drug charges. Capriati plans a full schedule this year but cheerfully admits she may never again play with the skill and confidence that made her a French Open semifinalist at age 14. "It's been so long since I've been out there in the quarters, the semis, the finals, the important matches against top players," she said. "Mentally I still have to get all that back -- if I ever get there."
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