WIMBLEDON NOTEBOOK : Novotna Gets Another Chance Against Graf on Centre Court

Two years have passed, and Jana Novotna now finds the loss easier to swallow.

Novotna, who fell apart and gave the 1993 Wimbledon title to Steffi Graf, plays the same opponent on the same court in today’s semifinals.

Novotna denied that she’s concerned about the similarity in circumstances.

“Not at all,” she said. “It’s going to be great to be back on the Centre Court again playing Graf.”

The other semifinal will be a battle of Barcelona, with defending champion Conchita Martinez playing Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. For the first time since the Open era began in 1968, no American woman is in the semifinals.

Novotna blew her best shot at a Grand Slam title in the final two years ago, caving in against Graf after needing only one point for a 5-1 lead in the third set. When the match ended, Novotna cried on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder.

Graf, seeking her sixth Wimbledon title, has a 30-0 record this year and is assured of retaining her No. 1 ranking. She described the second set of her quarterfinal victory over Mary Joe Fernandez as perfect tennis.

That doesn’t bode well for Novotna, who is 3-23 lifetime against Graf with 12 consecutive losses.

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Monica Seles’ return to the women’s tour is not much in doubt. Her tournament schedule is expected to be set during meetings this weekend.

The question is how she will return. Martina Navratilova, president of the WTA Players Assn., has proposed that Seles be given a co-No. 1 ranking for six tournaments. The players informally agreed. The decision was to be formalized at the French Open last month, but snags developed as players began to reconsider.

As for Seles, she has not requested a ranking. A spokeswoman said Wednesday that should Seles return, she would be willing to play qualifying matches and earn her ranking.

In contentious meetings last weekend and Tuesday night, players now say they view Navratilova’s proposal as unfair to those who would drop one position.

Leading the charge are Sanchez Vicario, Gigi Fernandez and Graf, who has said publicly that she favors the co-No. 1 proposal. But she reportedly said at a players’ meeting that her back troubles might not allow her to play the required minimum of 12 tournaments and that if Seles received special dispensation so should she.

Sanchez Vicario and Fernandez were reportedly angered that Seles might be eligible to play in the year-end championship, which carries lucrative bonuses and prize money. The top 16 players are invited to the event, held at Madison Square Garden.

The only player to support Seles, according to sources, was Gabriela Sabatini.

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Asked Wednesday to compare his tournament this year to last year’s, Andre Agassi said: “Well, one of the articles in the paper this time said I was short, fat, bald and ugly--I didn’t get that criticism a few years ago.”

He has been heavily scheduled on Centre Court, much to the chagrin of his peers. Some players have suggested Agassi is given an unfair advantage in his scheduling. He acknowledged that the court brings out the best in him.

“Just the environment,” he said. “You look around, you see the enthusiasm and you feel the history, the tradition. It’s quite exceptional. There’s no feeling like it, stepping out on Centre Court. I remember the nerves the first time I walked out there, not knowing what to expect. Now those nerves have just turned to excitement. It never gets old.”

A reporter said, “Martina Navratilova used to say it was like going home.”

Said Agassi: “If I had won this thing 19 times, it would be like going home to me too.”