Sanchez Vicario Takes a Little Extra Into Her Meeting With Seles in Final

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario has never beaten Monica Seles, but she is going to try something new in today’s French Open women’s final.

She is going to wear her lucky wristband.

Sanchez Vicario, winless in four matches against Seles, will wear the same wristband she wore while beating Steffi Graf in the 1989 French Open final and the semifinal here Thursday.

“I am not superstitious,” Sanchez Vicario said. “I wear it for all big matches and I shall wear it for the final. Yes, I suppose it is a little superstitious.”

Actually, a better strategy for Sanchez Vicario is to hope that Seles plays as poorly as Graf did in the 6-0, 6-2 semifinal shocker.

Seles started slowly against Gabriela Sabatini and was even at 4-4 in the first set when rain interrupted play. After nearly a 1 1/2-hour delay, Seles won eight of the last nine games and rolled into the final for the second consecutive year.

Seles, the defending champion, must win today to retain her No. 1 ranking.