TENNIS ROUNDUP : Graf Takes a Victory Over Sanchez Vicario Seriously

Perhaps someday Steffi Graf’s facial features will reflect her remarkable success. For now, she’s still winning without grinning.

Graf earned the 70th title of her career Sunday by defeating Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, 6-4, 6-3, at the Virginia Slims of Florida at Delray Beach.

The victory total means nothing, Graf said, but winning means everything--even in a tournament that rivals Monica Seles and Martina Navratilova chose to skip.

“Many players--some of the men--think the Grand Slams are the only ones to win, but I don’t think that way,” said Graf, who earned $75,000. “I take every tournament very seriously.”

Still only 23, Graf ranks sixth among women in tournament titles. Martina Navratilova leads with 163.

Graf took charge of the final by using familiar weapons--her forehand and serve. Sanchez Vicario had predicted a match with long rallies, but Graf hit with too much pace to let the Spaniard find her rhythm.

Sanchez Vicario pulled her left hamstring early in the match. She said it bothered her the rest of the way, but the injury did not keep her from playing a doubles match after losing to Graf.

Andrei Olhovskiy of Russia won his two first ATP tournament titles at the $175,000 Copenhagen Open.

Olhovskiy, ranked 87th in the world, upset fifth-seeded Nicklas Kulti of Sweden, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, to take the singles crown. In doubles, the 26-year-old from Moscow teamed with David Adams of Australia to defeat the Czech Republic’s Martin Damm and Daniel Vacek, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Kulti, ranked 45th in the world, said he was a bit befuddled by Olhovskiy.

“It was hard to counter him, as he had no playing pattern,” Kulti said. “He plays totally different from others.”