AUGUST

Acura Classic, Manhattan Beach, CA

In August, as a warm-up for her US Open campaign, Steffi Graf enters the Acura Classic in Manhattan Beach, CA. This is the same tournament that Steffi won in 1987 to take over the No. 1 ranking, so it bears fond memories for the German champion. As the top seed, Steffi receives a first round bye, and takes on Katrina Adams in the 2nd round. Steffi wins a fairly easy match, 6-4, 6-2.

In the 3rd round, Steffi faces new kid on the block, Venus Williams. This is the first meeting between the two players. Williams gives a good account of herself, but, in the end, is simply overawed by the power of Steffi. Steffi marches on 6-4, 6-4.

In the quarterfinals, Steffi faces yet another American, Amy Frazier(Steffi does not face a non-American throughout the entire tournament). The last time the tow met, in the quarterfinals of the 1995 US Open, Steffi had won for the loss of just five games. This occasion was to be no different. Steffi sails into a semifinal collision with Lindsay Davenport.

Up until this stage in their respective careers, Steffi Graf has never lost to Lindsay Davenport. However, on this day in Manhattan Beach, Davenport gets the better of Graf for the first time. Davenport has been threatening the champion all year, losing in the semis of the Evert Cup as well as the Lipton Championships. That match in Indian Wells took nearly three hours for Steffi to win, but, unfortunatelt, on this day she does not grind out a victory. Davenport starts off in dominating fashion, taking the first set 6-3. In the 2nd set, Steffi continues to make errors and Davenport continues to hit winners. Davenport eventually emerges victorious 6-3, 6-3 when Steffi hits a forehand wide. This is a very disappointing loss for Steffi, but it only serves as additional motivation for the upcoming US Open. (This is Steffi's first straight sets loss of the year)

FINAL RESULTS OF THE ACURA CLASSIC

US OPEN
FLUSHING MEADOWS, NEW YORK, NY

Steffi Graf opens her US Open campaign in a night match against Indonesian, Yayuk Basuki. Graf, the top seed, has never lost to the Indonesian, and this night is to be no different. But the gutsy Basuki pushes Steffi pretty hard. Steffi takes the first set 6-3, only to see Basuki storm ahead 5-2 in the second. But Steffi is determined not to let this slip away, and she closes Basuki out 6-3, 7-6.

In the 2nd round, Steffi faces Austrian, Karin Kschwendt. Although Steffi does not play the best of matches, she does triumph fairly easily 6-2, 6-1.

In the 3rd round, Steffi faces old rival, Belarussian, Natasha Zvereva. The 'Maiden from Minsk' gives Steffi a real go in the first set, and bad line calls don't work in Steffi's favour either. Steffi does manage to take the first set, though, and, eventually, the match, 6-4, 6-2.

In the 4th round, there is a classic match-up between experience and youth. Steffi faces Russian, Anna Kournikova, who, at just 15, is turning heads wherever she goes. But Steffi will have none of it, and the teacher takes out the pupil in just over 50 minutes, 6-2, 6-1, closing with a classic Graf forehand winner. Steffi had 23 winners, and had positive things to say about Kournikova's game: "She's really eager out there. She's got a good physique, which is definitely going to work for her, good service motion, good backhand. Just needs to be a bit more patient,`` Steffi said. ``Obviously experience is missing, but she definitely has the shots.``

Steffi faces Judith Weisner in the quarterfinals. In their 9 previous meetings, Steffi has never lost to the Austrian. Steffi's game is still not in top gear, and Wiesner makes the champion work very hard throughout the first set. When the set reaches 5-5, Steffi steps up a gear, and takes the set 7-5. In the 2nd set, Steffi races to a 4-0 lead, only to see Wiesner surge back. But, for Wiesner, it is a case of too little too late, as well as incredible shots from Steffi. The defending champion marches into the semifinals 7-5, 6-3.

The semifinals produce yet another classic match of experience versus youth. This time though, Steffi's foe is Swiss kid, Martina Hingis, who has already taken out Sanchez-Vicario and Novotna in the tournament. After one game, which Hingis wins, the rains come down, and the match is postponed until Saturday. Hingis keeps her advantage and moves into a 5-3 lead. As if this isn't enough, Hingis holds five set points in all, only to see Steffi save them all. Steffi wins six consecutive games to race into a 2-0 lead in the 2nd set. Hingis then revives slightly, but she is no match for Steffi who closes the match with a trademark forehand passing shot winner for a 7-5, 6-3 victory.

The final of the 1996 US Open final is a rematch of the 1995 final, in which Steffi beat Monica Seles 7-6, 0-6, 6-3. This time, the result is the same, but the score is different. Steffi is clearly sominant from the start, as she breaks Seles in the opening stages of the first set. Serving for the set at 5-4, Steffi runs into some trouble as Seles plays some great tennis to level at 5-5. But this is the last time that Seles looks like a contender for the title. Steffi breaks her right back and takes the opening set. Steffi breaks the Seles serve in the opening game of the second set, and never looks back. Steffi closes out Seles 7-5, 6-4 in an incredible display of power and shotmaking.

FINAL RESULTS OF THE 1996 US OPEN

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