Sabatini Says She’ll Play in La Costa Tournament

Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini will visit San Diego for the first time when she competes in the Mazda Tennis Classic, set for Aug. 24-30, at La Costa Resort and Spa.

Sabatini, in a conference call from Brazil Thursday, said the location and playing surface of the San Diego tournament factored into why it’s the best tuneup for the U.S. Open, which begins the day after the La Costa championship.

“I am looking forward to going to San Diego. I hear it’s a beautiful place,” said Sabatini, who recently lost in the semifinals of the French Open to Monica Seles and is in Brazil practicing on grass courts in preparation for Wimbledon.

Tournament promoter Raquel Giscafre, who is Argentine and a friend of Sabatini, has been trying to get her to play here for years but the tournament has always been held a month earlier. This is the first time it has worked into Sabatini’s training schedule.

“It’s very important to play a lot of matches, and a lot of tough players will be there,” Sabatini said.

Other players who will compete here are Zina Garrison, Conchita Martinez, Jana Novotna and Pam Shriver. Defending champion Jennifer Capriati is still uncommitted.