Back Pains Forces Graf to Concede Title Match

Her back ailing, Steffi Graf called it quits after a set Sunday, giving Jana Novotna the title at the Advanta Championships at Villanova, Pa.

“I tried to practice in the morning,” Graf said. “It wasn’t possible, so I knew it would be difficult to get on the court and play.”

She lost the first set, 6-4, then decided it was futile to continue.

The victory, worth $79,000, gave Novotna her third title in a row and moved her to No. 3 in the world.

In doubles, Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs defeated Nicole Arendt and Lori McNeil, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

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Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, the world’s No. 1-ranked doubles team, solidified that standing with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Alex O’Brien and Sebastian Lareau in the final of the Phoenix ATP Tour World Doubles Championship at Hartford, Conn.

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Tim Henman maintained his mastery over Greg Rusedski with a 6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory at the British National indoor championships at Telford, England. . . . Marianne Vallin of UNLV defeated UCLA’s Annica Cooper, 6-2, 6-2, to win the Rolex/ITA Southern California women’s regional at UC Irvine. In the doubles final, Angela Lawrence and Isabella Petrov of Pepperdine won, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, over Stephanie Lansdorp and Katy Propstra of Arizona State.