Graf, Sanchez Vicario Advance to Final

Steffi Graf beat Manuela Maleeva, and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario defeated Akiko Kijimuta, setting up today’s final between the No. 1 and No. 5 players in the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament.

Graf, ranked No. 1, was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Maleeva, who is ranked No. 8. Sanchez Vicario beat Kijimuta, Japan’s top player, 6-4, 6-2, in the other semifinal on the artificial court.

Graf has won four of five matches against Sanchez Vicario, the lone defeat coming in the finals of the 1989 French Open to keep the West German star from a second consecutive Grand Slam.