WOMEN’S TENNIS : Graf Breezes in Opener at Carlsbad
Top-ranked Steffi Graf used her overpowering game to dominate France’s Alexia Dechaume-Balleret, 6-0, 6-1, Tuesday night in a second-round match in the $400,000 Toshiba Tennis Classic.
Graf, who had a first-round bye, needed just 47 minutes to move into today’s third round against two-time NCAA champion Lisa Raymond.
“From anywhere, I felt like I could hit winners,” Graf said. “It was just a really good feeling out there, especially with my forehand. It just went where I wanted it to.”
Graf, who entered with a two-match losing streak, made quick work of Dechaume-Balleret as she won the first 11 games.
Lindsay Davenport, her serve humming on the hard courts, also enjoyed a quick afternoon of work, breezing past Stephanie Rottier, 6-2, 6-3.
Davenport, ranked sixth in the world and seeded fourth, surrendered only 12 points on her serve.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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