Capriati Loses to Sabatini, Leaves With a Smile

Jennifer Capriati walked off the court with a wave and a smile Monday, refreshed about life and tennis despite a straight-set loss to Gabriela Sabatini.

Sabatini won, 6-1, 6-4, in the fourth round of the Lipton Championships, interrupting a comeback but reviving a rivalry dormant for the past three years.

“I could have done a little bit better,” said Capriati, who officially puts her teenage years behind her Friday when she turns 20. “But still, I feel like I had a good tournament and a great time, so I’m very happy with myself and with everything.”

Rebounding from personal problems, Capriati was playing in her third tournament since mid-February after only one match the previous 2 1/2 years. A first-round loss in the 1993 U.S. Open left Capriati in tears and drove her from the WTA Tour.

She found Monday’s defeat easier to accept.

“I feel like I’m back, so I’m back,” she said. “I’m ready to play.”

With a record this year of 7-3, Capriati will enter the computer rankings next week at about 105th. She said her schedule is undetermined, but the comeback will continue.

“I was surprised with the way she was playing,” Sabatini said. “She seems to be very fit, and she’s hitting the ball very well. Her rhythm was very good. I had to play a great match to beat her.”

Advancing to the fourth round in the men’s draw were Andre Agassi and Stefan Edberg.

Agassi, seeded third, survived his second consecutive three-set duel to beat Jean-Philippe Fleurian, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Edberg posted a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nicolas Pereira, who upset top-ranked Thomas Muster in the second round.

Other women reaching the quarterfinals included top-seeded Steffi Graf, No. 3 Anke Huber, No. 5 Kimiko Date and No. 6 Chanda Rubin.

Graf won the final 11 games to stun No. 9 Mary Joe Fernandez in 47 minutes, 6-1, 6-0; Huber defeated Judith Wiesner, 6-4, 6-4; Date beat Silvia Farina, 6-2, 6-2; and Rubin eliminated Nathalie Tauziat, 6-3, 6-4.