Graf Overcomes Rain Delay, Shriver to Reach Final Against Sukova

Steffi Graf of West Germany waited out a three-hour rain delay, then won six games in 19 minutes Saturday to beat Pam Shriver, 6-4, 6-3, in the semifinals of the $250,000 Virginia Slims of Florida tennis tournament.

Graf, seeded No. 2, will meet No. 4-seeded Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia in today’s final. Sukova earlier defeated Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Graf, 17, took the first set, then Shriver appeared to gain some momentum and was up, 2-0, in the second set when the rains came. After the rain delay, Graf won six of the seven games.

“I didn’t feel happy (about the rain delay),” Graf said. “I wasn’t really playing too good. I was OK, but not my best.

“I felt in the first set, I wasn’t really taking advantage on her second serve, so I decided (during the delay) to do that,” Graf said. “I also knew I had to make it 2-1, because being down, 3-0, would be too much.”

Shriver, seeded No. 3, said the rain delay hurt her. “I think any time (there’s a delay), whoever has the momentum when the rain falls is at a disadvantage,” she said. “I really felt in control in the first set, unlike the last few games where she totally dictated play.”