Graf’s Injuries May Be Real Trouble : Wimbledon: Back and wrist cited by coach as problems after matches.

Steffi Graf might be more seriously injured than she has let on.

Graf’s long-standing back injury was cited Tuesday as the reason for her late withdrawal from doubles, where she was to team with Martina Navratilova. Graf’s multiple back problems--from bone spurs to chronic muscle spasms--are increasingly keeping her off the court and may prematurely end her career.

An announcement late Tuesday night from the Women’s Tennis Assn. said only that the top-ranked Graf had withdrawn to avoid further aggravation to her back. However, after her 6-3, 6-1 victory over Martina Hingis on Tuesday, Graf was asked about her back and a sprained right wrist, and the news was more upbeat.

Graf’s carefully worded response: “The back is fine. The wrist is perfect.”

But Graf’s coach, Heinz Gunthardt, said Wednesday that both injuries were causing problems for Graf, particularly after matches.

“What happens when these things happen is actually you play fine and once you cool off--the same thing with the wrist--the stiffness creeps in,” Gunthardt said.

Gunthardt confirmed that Graf hurt her back during Tuesday’s match, as it had appeared to observers. Graf had denied it.

The pairing of two of the best women’s players of their generations was a highly touted event, as was Navratilova’s return to the All England Club after retiring from singles competition last year.

“I was looking forward to playing with Steffi for the first time,” Navratilova said Wednesday. She is working as a commentator for HBO television.

“She called last night. She said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t do it.’ She hurt her wrist as well as her back. I think she’s getting injections for both. Steffi thinks she could have played one or two matches, but not all the way through.”

Asked if she was upset, Navratilova said, “Disappointed, obviously. It’s not my body, I don’t know. She’s the only one who knows how she’s feeling. She looked good yesterday. If it were me, I probably would have tried to play a match or two and see how it went.”

Navratilova on Monday entered the mixed doubles with Jonathan Stark.

“I wanted to play mixed doubles because I had a feeling Steffi would pull out,” Navratilova said. “I spoke with her at the French [Open] and she really wasn’t feeling well.”