Volley of Bickering Continues: Seles Upset Graf Criticized Her

Here is the flow chart in women’s tennis: Monica plays an exhibition but doesn’t play Federation Cup. Steffi criticizes Monica. Jennifer criticizes Monica. Monica absolves Jennifer. Monica criticizes Steffi.

Monica Seles, the No. 1-ranked player in women’s tennis, said Wednesday that Steffi Graf erred in criticizing her for her schedule.

“I never said a bad thing about Steffi (and) you could say a lot of bad things (such as) Steffi’s excuses she has used that she is sick when she loses a match,” Seles said during a break at the Mazda tennis tournament held this week at La Costa.

“I respect Steffi and I don’t say anything bad that Steffi got injured or anything, if it’s true or not.”

Seles was reacting to Graf’s comments last week that Seles’ decision to skip Wimbledon and the Federation Cup but still play an exhibition tournament at Mahwah, N.J., “is just not excusable.”

Jennifer Capriati was also quoted as saying that Seles didn’t seem injured when she played the exhibition, but Seles is convinced that Capriati’s comments were not accurately reported.

Seles also said she will appeal the $6,000 fine levied by the Women’s Tennis Assn. for her withdrawal from Wimbledon three days before the event was to begin and is considering an appeal of a $20,000 WTA fine for playing the exhibition in New Jersey.