Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 2, 1990 TAG: 9007020115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND LENGTH: Medium
Capriati has a "really neat" engagement with Steffi Graf today, one of those rare first meetings between present and future stars entering the prime of their careers.
No encounter has been as eagerly awaited at Wimbledon this year since fans tuned in to see whether Grunts are taking over Wimbledon. B3 John McEnroe would get thrown out again. McEnroe erupted mildly, walked away meekly and left the crowd hungry for something more substantial.
Bomb scares that fizzled, fortunately, shook up everyone in the the first week of Wimbledon's fortnight.
Seven of the men's seeds vanished before the first round ended.
Rain threatened but didn't do much.
Only the strawberries and cream have been true to form at this event.
After a day of rest Sunday and a quick trip home to Germany by Graf, play resumes today with 14-year-old Capriati on Centre Court for the second time.
"It's going to be a great moment in my life I'm never going to forget," Capriati said of her match with Graf. "I'm not afraid. I want to play her."
Capriati vs. Graf, future champ vs. two-time winner, isn't likely to last as long as the matches sandwiched around it on Centre Court, but is far more titillating to tennis aficionados.
It outshines a showdown between three-time champion Boris Becker and 1987 champ Pat Cash, and a rematch between 1989 French Open finalists Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang.
Top-seeded Ivan Lendl will resume his suspended match on Court 1 against American Bryan Shelton - each won a tie-breaker Saturday evening - and eight-time champion Martina Navratilova takes on Judith Wiesner.
But none of the action, including appearances by 16-year-old French Open champion Monica Seles and American hopefuls David Wheaton and Brad Gilbert, holds the allure of Capriati-Graf.
"I think she's a future Wimbledon champion," said Ann Jones, the '69 Wimbledon titlist, of Capriati. "But she's still got something to learn. She's got to absorb some experience on grass. Nothing's impossible, but I don't think Steffi will allow her much rope."
Capriati's European adventure this year has seen her reach the quarterfinals at the Italian Open, the semis at the French and now the fourth-round at Wimbledon. She captured tennis fans' hearts in Rome, Paris and London with her style, stamina and freshness, and took whirlwind tours of each city.
Graf, 21, gave Capriati her due and said she was impressed with her power after watching her in the third round. But Graf, who has hinted that she may retire from tennis in the near future, is not ready to yield to the new wave yet.
Graf is particularly eager to reclaim her title and secure her No. 1 status after consecutive losses to Seles in the German and French Opens.
Keywords:
TENNIS
by CNB