January

Steffi, citing a lack of fitness, elects to withdraw from the Australian Open. Steffi feels that she has not had enough match practise to compete at a competitive enough level. Steffi postpones her comeback until the Pan Pacific Open, in early February.

February

Steffi eventually manages to return to the Corel WTA Tour in late February at the Faber Grand Prix in Hanover, Germany. After postponing comeback attempts in Tokyo and Paris, Steffi finally deems herself fit to contend in a top tour event. Steffi first returns in doubles. She and Barbara Rittner(her partner) win their match easily against Wiltrud Probst and Meike Babel 6-3, 6-1, but the main thing that stands out, is the enormous standing ovation received by Steffi, which moves her to tears. In the singles event, Steffi, seeded 2nd, is seemingly back to her old self, as she sets about destroying Andrea Glass with consumate ease, 6-4, 6-2 in 68 minutes.

In the quarterfinals, Steffi faces Belgian, Sabine Appelmans. Appelmans plays well to build a 6-3, 5-2 lead, but Steffi fights back to force a tie-break. However, Appelmans eventually closes out the match in a 7-5 tie-break, but Steffi is not discouraged, and she is looking forward to Indian Wells.

Faber Grand Prix Results
SINGLES(1-1)

DOUBLES(1-1)
(with Barbara Rittner)

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