TENNIS / EVERT CUP : Graf Sweeps Past Gigi Fernandez

Gigi Fernandez, celebrating her 30th birthday, blew out the candles on a birthday cake at a party Tuesday night.

Earlier in the day, top-ranked Steffi Graf blew out Fernandez, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the Evert Cup at Hyatt Grand Champions, completing her day’s work on the stadium court in only 47 minutes.

“I hired a bodyguard to club her in the knee, but he didn’t show up,” Fernandez said at a postmatch news conference, where she wore a red T-shirt with the inscription: “Me? 30? I Demand a Recount.”

Whether it was her advancing age or, more likely, Graf’s brilliant play, Fernandez showed her frustration during the match more than once.

During a changeover after winning the seventh game of the second set, Fernandez remained in her seat and read a newspaper, to Graf’s amusement, while Graf stood at the baseline, waiting to serve.

“She was reading the money section,” Graf said, “so I was thinking, she’s thinking about how she’s going to use the prize money she’s going to get for losing in the first round.”

Confirmed Fernandez: “I was reading stock quotes.”

Why?

“Just to get my mind off it, try to relax a little bit,” said Fernandez, who earned $2,650. “I should have done it earlier. When you’re down, 6-1, 5-2, you have to try to do something different.”

Graf, who has lost only twice in her last 63 matches and has yet to drop a set in 13 matches this year, moved into today’s second round against Tracy Austin, who 11 years ago defeated Graf in the German’s first professional match, 6-4, 6-0, at Filderstadt, Germany.

Austin said Monday she had fond memories of the then 13-year-old Graf, saying she was impressed with Graf’s ability and confidence.

“Is that so?” Graf said Tuesday, appearing to be suspicious. “She said something different afterward.”

She wasn’t gracious?

“She said something to the press that I wasn’t liking at the time,” Graf said. “She said there were hundreds of players like me in America.”

Pausing, Graf smiled. “Probably not anymore.”