Graf appears set to defend title

ROLAND GARROS: For the first time in several years, the German, Steffi Graf, has come into a tournament seeded No 2. The new No 1 Martina H...

ROLAND GARROS: For the first time in several years, the German, Steffi Graf, has come into a tournament seeded No 2. The new No 1 Martina Hingis, the 16-year-old Swiss sensation, took the top spot away in Graf’s absence and now thinks it is her’s to keep.

Graf has always been one to expect a challenge, and that’s exactly what she likes. Her loss to Amanda Coetzer on clay 0-6, 1-6, a few weeks earlier made her redouble her efforts to be well prepared for the French Open which she believes is still her title, this year as well. She has moved into the third round with her usual ease, and, having won a tournament last week, she now appears to be both in fine form and also mentally well prepared to defend her title in Paris.

The South African, Amanda Coetzer, who had beaten Graf earlier this season is seeded No 11. But, she is always a threat on on any surface not only because she is extremely consistent and mentally very tough. She is never going to give any match away with errors. Her opponent will have to bear her with more than just good shots.

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Jana Novotna, seeded No 4, will always be remembered for crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after she led 4-0 in the final set against Graf in her first Grand Slam final and lost. But, she will continue to be a tough opponent at the Grand Slams. She has just beaten Monica Seles recently and seems to have gained confidence to win the big matches. It remains to be seen how she performs towards the closing stages of the tournament, assuming she makes the second week.

Serious upsets in the men’s singles were almost expected and after a disaster on the second day where Goran Ivanisevic and Jim Courier, both fell with Thomas Muster scraping through, the third day delivered one more upset as this year’s Australian Open finalist and No 9 seed Carlos Moya fell to unseeded Albert Portas.

Pete Sampras continued very impressively crushing Fransisco Clavet of France while defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov also comfortably beat another Frenchman Guilamme Roux in straight sets.

Having had a long five-setter against the German Marc Goellner on the opening day, Thomas Muster recovered quickly to beat the fiery American Jeff Tarango in four sets.

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The in-form Spaniard Alex Corretja seeded No 8 also moved into the third round and after having two great weeks where he has won one event and reached the final of another, he has shown that he is ready to win one of those big ones.

He is a fine clay court player with a wonderful attitude and it remains to be seen whether he has the mental ability to win a Grand Slam event.

India’s Leander Paes who had a good win in the first round over Grant Stafford, fell to Magnus Norman, the Swede, in four sets. Norman was one of the young Swedes who had played in the Indian Open in Chennai in April and came away with great feelings for India.

(Professional Management Group)