WOMEN’S TENNIS : Capriati Tops Gildemeister, Will Face Sabatini in Final

Jennifer Capriati beat 10th-seeded Laura Gildemeister of Peru, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4), Saturday to continue her amazing first-tournament run in the Virginia Slims of Florida.

Capriati, 13, of Saddlebrook, Fla., will face top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini in today’s title match. Sabatini advanced when third-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez retired with a strained left hamstring at 4-4 in the opening set.

Capriati is trying to become the youngest player, at 13 years and 11 months, to win a professional tournament. She already is the youngest finalist, surpassing Andrea Jaeger’s feat at 15 years 2 months at the U.S. Clay Court championships in Indianapolis in 1980. The youngest player to win a tournament is Jaeger, who prevailed in Tampa in 1980 at 15 and 4 months.

Only three players, Tracy Austin, Chris Evert and Kathy Horvath, have won their first professional tournament.

“I really can’t believe I’m in the finals,” said Capriati, who will turn 14 March 29. “This is like a dream come true.”

Gildemeister, ranked 21st in the world, said Capriati “doesn’t give you an opportunity to come in. She plays very well when she’s down.”

Sabatini said she hadn’t been playing well before Fernandez injured her hamstring at 2-2 in the opening set.

“I was disappointed a little and angry because I was not going for the match,” Sabatini said. “I was not hitting the ball like in the other matches.”