Improving Rubin No Match for Graf

Against Steffi Graf, long-match specialist Chanda Rubin lasted less than an hour.

Graf played nearly flawless tennis and won the Lipton Championships for the fifth time Saturday by defeating Rubin, 6-1, 6-3, in 55 minutes.

Rubin, the winner of two record-length Grand Slam matches in the past year, fell shy in a bid for her first tournament title. In her four matches against Graf, Rubin, 20, has won a total of 14 games.

“I’d like to congratulate Steffi,” Rubin said during the award ceremony. “She was definitely too good for me today, yesterday and the day before.”

The top-seeded Graf, who committed only seven unforced errors, improved to 11-0 with two titles since returning this month from foot surgery in December.

“I can’t ask for a better start,” said Graf, who earned $210,000. “I’ve been playing some top players and always came out playing the right shots at the right time, even in close matches. So I think it’s a perfect start.”

In six matches in the Lipton, Graf said she experienced none of the chronic back spasms that have plagued her for more than a year. She shares the No. 1 ranking with Monica Seles, who missed the tournament because of a shoulder injury.

“For both of us, it’s been pretty difficult injury-wise,” Graf said. “Hopefully soon we’ll be able to play each other again. It is nothing you can force.”

The men’s final today pits third-seeded Andre Agassi, who has tennis’ best service return, against No. 6 Goran Ivanisevic, who owns the game’s biggest serve.

Graf, who won the Evert Cup at Indian Wells two weeks ago, extended her winning streak to 19 consecutive matches.

The sixth-seeded Rubin, doomed by 26 unforced errors and five double faults, fell to 0-5 in finals.

“There have to be more opportunities for me,” she said. “If I keep working, eventually I’m bound to get one.”

As consolation, the Lafayette, La., native received a check for $105,000 and will be ranked a career-best No. 7 next week.

On the final two points, Rubin double-faulted and dumped a forehand into the net, giving Graf her third consecutive Lipton title and 97th on the WTA Tour. She also won the Lipton in 1987 and 1988.

“It’s a pretty unique feeling winning a tournament so many times,” Graf said.