Graf ruins meeting of sisters
Serena Williams will not meet Venus in Challenge Cup
Posted: Friday January 08, 1999 03:21 PM
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Graf: "My goal in 1999 is to do well in the Grand Slams" Gary M. Prior/Allsport |
HONG KONG (AP) -- Seven-time Wimbledon champion Steffi Graf
overpowered American teenager Serena Williams 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
Friday, and advanced to the final of the Super-Power Challenge Cup
to face Williams' sister Venus.
Venus Williams defeated Anna Kornikova of Russia 6-4, 6-3 in
the other semifinal match at the Victoria Park tennis court.
All four players are using the three-day exhibition tournament
as a warm-up for the Australian Open, which begins January 18.
The 29-year-old Graf, continuing her return from an
injury-plagued season, said she was ready to win some major titles.
"My goal in 1999 is to do well in the Grand Slams," said Graf,
who has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles in her career.
Serena Williams, 17, said after her first encounter with Graf
that she has to take her "serve and forehand to another level if I
want to achieve my goal of breaking into the top five this year."
She is ranked 20th by the WTA Tour.
Venus, who is ranked fifth, overcame Kournikova in a match
riddled with errors. Both players dropped serve numerous times,
before the American convered her fifth match point to win the
second set and the match.
"It was bad out there today. I just hope it gets better from
now on," Venus Williams said.
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