Tennis Roundup : Sabatini Dominates Shriver at New York

Gabriela Sabatini finally emerged from Steffi Graf’s shadow by dominating the Virginia Slims Championships in Graf style, defeating Pam Shriver, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2, Sunday at New York.

Sabatini, who did not lose a set in the tournament, used 50 clean groundstroke winners and a consistency that she has rarely shown before in the final.

It was reminiscent of Graf, who had lost only three times all year--twice to Sabatini and once, in the semifinals of this tournament, to Shriver.

“That’s the best tennis I ever played in my life,” Sabatini said of the final. “I was very strong mentally. I wanted to win very much.”

The 18-year-old Argentine controlled the match with looping topspin groundstrokes, passing Shriver consistently at the net.

“You don’t see that kind of topspin very often, so it takes a little getting used to,” Shriver said. “Her shots are very hard to handle.”

It was the first major singles title for the fourth-seeded Sabatini, who earned $125,000, the biggest paycheck of her career. Shriver, seeded fifth, received $60,000.

Sabatini took the upper hand when she broke Shriver’s serve with a cross-court forehand to go up, 6-5, in the first set. The Argentine closed out the set minutes later with a delicate half-volley that landed on the line.

Second-seeded John McEnroe continued his comeback by defeating third-seeded Aaron Krickstein, 7-5, 6-2, to win the singles final of the Little Caesars championship tournament at Detroit.

McEnroe broke Krickstein’s serve three times in each set and kept him off balance with numerous drop shots.

“I wanted to mix it up,” McEnroe said. “If he’s on the offensive or in a groove, he’s a dangerous player. I wanted to make him do things he’s not used to doing. I knew I could beat him that way.”

Second-seeded Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland won his second consecutive tournament title, overcoming unseeded Christo van Rensburg of South Africa in the final of the $420,000 South African Open at Johannesburg.

Hlasek, who won an indoor tournament in London last week, lost his serve only once in the 3-hour match against Van Rensburg, winning, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6.