Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 21, 1990 TAG: 9005210045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WEST BERLIN LENGTH: Medium
Teen-ager Monica Seles ended Steffi Graf's 66-match winning streak Sunday, winning 6-4, 6-3 at the German Open to capture her fifth straight title.
"I was so far away from playing my best tennis, it was difficult to get into it," Graf said. "If I play like that, I can't expect to win."
Seles extended her own winning streak to 24 matches by handing Graf her first loss in nearly a year. Graf hadn't lost since last June 10, when Arantxa Sanchez Vicario beat her in the French Open final.
Graf's winning streak was the second longest in the modern era of women's tennis. Martina Navratilova won 74 straight matches in 1984.
Seles lost the first two games Sunday before breaking Graf's serve twice for a 4-2 lead. From that point on, Seles controlled the match as Graf continued to be plagued by unforced errors.
Although Seles was thrilled with the victory, the 16-year-old Yugoslav didn't boast about breaking Graf's winning streak.
"This is just one match," Seles said. "I'm just happy that I'm playing well."
Asked what she planned to do with her $100,000 winner's check, Seles said: "Maybe after the French Open I'll buy a car. I'm the only one of the top players who doesn't have a car. My taste is a little exotic - I'd like a Lamborghini, but I'll settle for a red BMW."
It was Seles' first victory over Graf after three losses, the most recent in Brighton, England, seven months ago.
Seles, who routed Navratilova 6-1, 6-1 for the Italian Open title last week, said she has gained a lot of confidence in recent months.
"I'm much more experienced now and I wasn't afraid of Graf as much as before," she said.
After falling behind 4-2 in the first set, Graf hit a long forehand on the first point of the seventh game and showed her frustration by slamming a ball into the net.
The West German recovered to win the game, but Seles never let up.
After both players held serve, Seles took a 40-love lead on Graf's serve to set up her first set point.
Graf saved the first set point with a forehand winner and Seles squandered the second with a wide backhand. But Seles then won the set with a blistering, forehand winner.
Seles jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second set, breaking Graf's serve in the second game.
Graf broke back in the third game, but she couldn't stop Seles' march to the title. Graf lost her serve two more times, including the final game when she hit a forehand over the baseline on match point.
A smiling Seles held her arms high in celebration, and the German crowd stood and applauded as she strolled to the net to shake Graf's hand.
by CNB