US OPEN
31 August - 13 September
Steffi is seeded 8th for the Open
Steffi Graf is given the 8th seed at the US Open, based on past performances. Despite her ranking of 26, it is only right, as far as I am concerned, to give her this prestige. In the 1st round, Steffi faces tough American, Corina Morariu. Steffi has never played Morariu before, so she didn't know what to expect. In the first set, Steffi exhibits some top class tennis, closing out the set 6-2 with an incredible drop-shot winner. However, in the 2nd set, Morariu begins to take control, and soon the second set is hers, 6-3. However, the impenetrable Steffi storms ahead in the final set, taking the early initiative. Soon the match is Steffi's - 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, in just over an hour and a half.
In the 2nd round, Steffi faces fellow German, Marlene Weingartner, for the first time. Steffi takes no time to show Weingartner who's boss, taking the first set in 18 minutes, 6-0. Steffi is unrelenting in the second, and, in just 41 minutes, Steffi races through to the 3rd round, 6-0, 6-1.
In the 3rd round, Steffi faces Croatian teen sensation, Mirjana Lucic. Steffi has only played Lucic on one previous occasion - in Strasbourg, 1997, when Steffi beat the Croatian in the final, 6-2, 7-5. However, Lucic was not allowed such luxury on this occasion. Steffi got off to a hugely impressive start, taking the 1st set 6-1. The teenager was making errors, and Steffi was making none. Once again, Lucic could get no more than one game in the 2nd set, and Steffi was through to the Round of 16 in just 43 minutes, 6-1, 6-1. Steffi made only 7 unforced errors in the match, and over 90% of her first serves in the second set went in.
In the fourth round, Steffi faces rising star, Swiss girl, Patty Schnyder - the 11th seed. Steffi gets off to a bad start, falling behing 2-5 early on. Soon, she loses the 1st set, 3-6. At 4-4 in the second set, Steffi's serve is broken again, and Schnyder serves out the match when Steffi hits a backhand out - 3-6, 4-6 in just 59 minutes. This is a very disappointing loss for Steffi, who is sidelined for the remainder of September, due to an operation which she has to remove a bone growth from her wrist.
FINAL RESULTS OF THE US OPEN
ROUND |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
RESULT |
| 1 | Corina Morariu | 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 | WON |
| 2 | Marlene Weingartner | 6-0, 6-1 | WON |
| 3 | Mirjana Lucic | 6-1, 6-1 | WON |
| 4 | Patty Schnyder(11) | 3-6, 4-6 | LOST |