Graf’s No. 1 Priority Is Winning

While the men’s side of the French Open has been denuded of many seeded players, the women are cruising along more or less according to form.

Steffi Graf is quietly winning, bemused by the attention lavished on Martina Hingis, who succeeded Graf in the No. 1 position. Graf won with only a slight bobble Friday, defeating Magui Serna of Spain, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, to advance to the fourth round.

Fifth-seeded Lindsay Davenport had trouble but beat Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, 4-6, 6-3, 9-7.

Karina Habsudova of Slovakia, seeded 15th, and Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic, seeded fourth, both lost Friday, becoming the second and third seeded women to lose. Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania defeated Habsudova, 6-3, 6-2. Nicole Arendt of Princeton, N.J., upset Novotna, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Graf, still rusty from the longest layoff of her career, is playing well enough to win.

“I feel better every day that I go out there and play,” she said. “My serve’s gotten a lot better since last week. I’m moving around the court quite a bit better than last week. Altogether I do see an improvement. Maybe at certain times the stability in my game is missing.”

Today’s third round features three interesting matches. Hingis will play Anna Kournikova of Russia, in a battle for teenage bragging rights. The 16-year-old Hingis should have little trouble with the 15-year-old Kournikova.

Third-seeded Monica Seles faces the feisty Natalie Tauziat of France, who defeated Venus Williams in the second round. Tenth-seeded Mary Pierce will play countrywoman Sandrine Testud.

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Today’s Featured Matches

MEN

* Michael Chang (2) vs. Stephane Simian

* Richard Krajicek (6) vs. Patrick Rafter

* Marcelo Rios (7) vs. Arnaud Boetsch

WOMEN

* Martina Hingis (1) vs. Anna Kournikova

* Monica Seles (3) vs. Nathalie Tauziat

* Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (6)

vs. Dominique Van Roost

* Mary Pierce (10) vs. Sandrine Testud