MAY

Steffi originally schedules her comeback to be at the Rexona Cup in Hamburg, Germany. However, she is unable to play this, and she elects to play in the German Open in Berlin - an event which she has won on no less than 9 occasions.

Steffi finally returns to the Corel WTA Tour at the German Open. Steffi is seeded No. 1, and, after a first round bye, she faces American, Chanda Rubin. Steffi has never lost more than 4 games against Rubin, so it is good that her comeback starts against her. Steffi is given a very warm welcome by her home crowd, and she quickly sets about taking the first set. She does that, 6-3, but then seems to lose concentration. Rubin takes the 2nd set, 6-3. However, Steffi shows why she is such a great champion, as she takes the American apart in the final set, and moves into the 3rd round, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

In the 3rd round, Steffi faces Ruxandra Dragomir. Steffi plays a good match, but she is not yet at top form. Nonetheless, the top seeded German races into the quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-2.

Once there, Steffi once again faces the diminutive South African, Amanda Coetzer. It is beginning to seem as though they are constantly on a collision course. It is obvious from the start that the memories of Melbourne are still fresh in both player's minds. Steffi's especially. Steffi plays probably the worst set she has ever played, losing it 0-6. Things do not really improve in Set 2, as Steffi makes error after error after error. Eventually, Coetzer stands at match point. Almost appropriately, Steffi double faults to lose the match 0-6, 1-6 - the worst scoreline of her life. Steffi finishes with 48 unforced errors(ie. 12 games worth) and 5 double faults. A really shocking performance.

ROUND	OPPONENT	SCORE	RESULT
2	Chanda Rubin	6-3, 3-6, 6-1	WON
3	Ruxandra Dragomir	6-3, 6-2	WON
QF	Amanda Coetzer	0-6, 1-6	LOST

Steffi Graf enters the Tier III event in Strasbourg for the first time, in order to get additional match practice for the French Open. Steffi, once again, is the top seed for this event. In the 2nd round, Steffi takes on Canadian, Patricia Hy-Boulais. In a pretty straightforward match, Steffi takes the Canadian apart, 6-3, 6-2.

In the quarterfinals, Steffi faces Frenchwoman, Sandrine Testud. Testud starts off strong, winning the first set, 6-3. However, this only spurs Steffi on to greater heights, as she takes the next two sets and the match, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

In the semifinals, Steffi faces, yep you guessed it - Amanda Coetzer, the 3rd seed. This time though, Steffi is adequately prepared. Coetzer does manage to take the first set, but Steffi squeezes out the 2nd set, 7-5. The 3rd set becomes an absolute marathon, with Steffi eventually coming through in the tie-break. Steffi moves into a final with Lucic, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).

In the final of the Strasbourg event, Steffi faces up and comer, Mirjana Lucic. Lucic, at just 15 years of age, had idolised Steffi when she was young, and now she had a chance to play her. Lucic had won the first tournament she entered, in Bol, Croatia, so Steffi wasn't taking this match lightly. Steffi though, takes the first set 6-2. In the 2nd set, Lucic's play picks up, but it is still Steffi that comes through, to take her 103rd career title, 6-2, 7-5.

ROUND	OPPONENT	SCORE	RESULT
2	Patricia Hy-Boulais	6-3, 6-2	WON
QF	Sandrine Testud	3-6, 6-2, 6-1	WON
SF	Amanda Coetzer	4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4)	WON
F	Mirjana Lucic	6-2, 7-5	WON

Despite feeling inadequately prepared, Steffi enters the French Open at Roland Garros. Steffi is the 2nd seed and a five time champion. Steffi opens her 1997 campaign against Paolo Suarez. Steffi starts very convincingly, taking the first set 6-1 and storming to a 5-1 lead in the 2nd set. However, Steffi has a slight slip-up, but still manages to trounce the Argentinian 6-1, 6-4.

In the 2nd round, Steffi faces up and coming Frenchwoman, Amelie Mauresmo. Mauresmo, the 1996 junior Wimbledon champion, plays well, but the ever tough champion comes through in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

In the 3rd round, Steffi faces lefti Spaniard, Magui Serna. Serna plays a game with a lot of topspin, and this can sometimes be troublesome for Steffi. The first set is incredibly tough, and Steffi just sneaks through in a 7/4 tie-break. By the 2nd set, Steffi has become accustomed to Serna's big toppie game, and she moves through to the round of 16, 7-6(4), 6-1.

In the 4th round, Steffi faces Romanian, Irina Spirlea. Spirlea plays very well in the 1st set, and takes it on a tie-break. After the tie-break, Steffi jacks her game up, and moves fairly comfortably into the quarterfinal, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.

In the quarterfinals, Steffi once again faces Amanda Coetzer. Steffi starts off very nervously, quickly falling behing. Soon the first set is Coetzer's 6-1. Coetzer then moves to 5-2 in the 2nd after a rain delay. Steffi then makes one final attempt to come back, breaking the Coetzer serve to reach 4-5. Steffi then goes ahead 30-0, but she is unable to capitalise, despite numerous game points, and Coetzer goes through 6-1, 6-4. This is to be Steffi's last match of 1997, as she sustains a knee injury which puts her out of action until February, 1998.

ROUND	OPPONENT	SCORE	RESULT
1	Paolo Suarez	6-1, 6-4	WON
2	Amelie Mauresmo	6-3, 6-3	WON
3	Magui Serna	7-6, 6-1	WON
4	Irina Spirlea	6-7, 6-2, 6-2	WON
QF	Amanda Coetzer	1-6, 4-6	LOST