On the Other Side, Graf Is Feeling Pressure From Seles and Navratilova

On the women’s side of Wimbledon, a three-way battle is shaping up among No. 1 Steffi Graf, No. 2 Martina Navratilova and No. 3 Monica Seles.

Two-time defending champion Graf has been made an odds-on favorite to win again, but she is coming off consecutive losses to Seles in the German and French opens. Seles, whose game is better suited to clay courts than the grass of Wimbledon, has won 32 consecutive matches and five consecutive tournaments.

Then there is Navratilova. The 33-year-old, eight-time Wimbledon champion has geared her entire year around this tournament, hoping to break her tie with Helen Wills Moody and win a record ninth title. Seeded second behind Graf, Navratilova plays Sophie Amiach of France in the first round.

Jennifer Capriati, 14, playing in her first Wimbledon, drew Helen Kelesi of Canada in the first round. Kelesi has not gone past the second round in five appearances at Wimbledon. A victory by Capriati would put her on track for a possible fourth-round match against Graf.