TENNIS ROUNDUP : Sabatini Beats Capriati, Will Face Graf in Final

Gabriela Sabatini defeated Jennifer Capriati, 7-5, 6-2, Saturday to earn a berth against Steffi Graf in today’s final of the Virginia Slims of Florida in Boca Raton.

Graf routed Nathalie Tauziat of France, 6-1, 6-2, in the other semifinal Saturday. Neither the top-seeded Graf nor No. 2 Sabatini has lost a set this week.

Sabatini wore down the fourth-seeded Capriati by hitting groundstrokes to the corners. Despite winds of 30 m.p.h., Sabatini was able to place her shots precisely.

This was a rematch of last year’s final, when Capriati, playing in her first professional event, lost to Sabatini, 6-4, 7-5.

Eighth-seeded Tauziat, who eliminated third-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez in the quarterfinals, lasted only 50 minutes against Graf. Tauziat hasn’t won a set from Graf in their 13 meetings.

Graf, eliminated in the quarterfinals of her two previous tournaments this year, is seeking her first title in four months. She has lost only 11 games in three matches this week.

Sabatini is seeking her second consecutive tournament championship. On her way to an indoor title at Tokyo last month, Sabatini beat Graf in a third-set tiebreaker in the quarterfinals.

Sabatini is 6-20 against Graf but has won their past two matches.

Top-seeded Jonas Svensson defeated third-seeded Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, in the semifinals of the Copenhagen Open.

Svensson will play fellow Swede Anders Jarryd today. Jarryd, seeded eighth, beat No. 6 Todd Woodbridge of Australia, 6-0, 6-4.