TENNIS INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIPS : After 0-6 Start, Sabatini Beats Graf

Gabriela Sabatini gave Steffi Graf a six-game head start and still won.

In a stunning comeback Thursday, Sabatini defeated Graf, 0-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, to move into the final of the International Players Championships. Her opponent Saturday will be top-ranked Monica Seles, who overpowered Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-1, 6-3.

The victory was Sabatini’s first after losing an opening set 6-0.

“I think it’s a great effort,” said Sabatini, who won only eight points in the 23-minute first set. “It has much to do with my mental toughness.”

After beating Graf for the fourth consecutive time and the second time in 11 days, Sabatini is one victory away from her third tournament title this year.

“She can’t play much better than she did in the second and third sets,” Graf said. “She won it, and I also lost the match in the second set.”

Graf’s defeat ensured that Seles will remain No. 1 next week. Seles replaced Graf at the top of the rankings last week.

Top-ranked Stefan Edberg advanced to the men’s semifinals by beating Emilio Sanchez, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6). Edberg overcame four set points in the second set.

The Swede’s opponent today will be Minnesotan David Wheaton, who served 10 aces as he rallied to beat Cristiano Caratti, 6-7 (9-7), 6-2, 6-0. Wheaton, ranked No. 46, lost his opening match in his four previous tournaments this year.

Jim Courier and Richey Reneberg will play in the other semifinal today.

Sabatini, 19-1 this year, said Graf dictated the action in the first set. “She was hitting the ball very well, and I wasn’t doing much,” she said. “After the first set, I tried to hit it a little deeper and get into the match.”

Graf dodged two set points before reaching 6-6 in the second set. She fell behind, 4-0, in the tiebreaker and overcame two more set points to pull even at 6-6. But she netted a backhand and then a forehand to give Sabatini the set.

“I had a lot of chances in the second set,” Graf said. “Once I lost it, I couldn’t get a ball in play.”

Sabatini was nearly flawless in the final set, and even an overrule on an important point didn’t help Graf. Trailing, 30-40, on her serve, Graf hit a forehand that the linesman called long. The chair umpire ordered a replay, but Graf then double-faulted to give Sabatini the game and a 5-0 lead.

“Probably I have more things I can do on the court (than Graf),” Sabatini said. “That’s why I feel so comfortable playing. I’m starting to show everything I have.”

Seles, who won a grueling three-Sset match Wednesday against Jennifer Capriati, was in control from the start against Fernandez.

“I didn’t want to have a three-set match and have long rallies,” Seles said. “I was trying to play a little better than I have all week.”