Graf’s Run at Open Comes to End

Steffi Graf’s comeback collapsed at the U.S. Open on Sunday night as she lost to a Swiss teenager in the fourth round for her earliest elimination from the tournament since 1984.

Graf, the five-time U.S. Open champion who is trying to come back from reconstructive knee surgery, was undermined by 33 unforced errors in her 6-3, 6-4 loss to Patty Schnyder.

Schnyder, who was 3 years old when Graf turned pro in 1982, used her strong forehand to overpower the former top-ranked player who once dominated opponents with her forehand.

Although Graf was seeded eighth and Schnyder 11th, the result was not that much of an upset. Graf is ranked 26th in the world and returning from the knee surgery, and Schnyder is ranked 10th.

The match ended after 59 minutes when Graf hit a service return long. Graf marched quickly off court, while Schynder celebrated and then signed autographs.

Schnyder, 19, who has won five tournaments this year, broke Graf’s serve early in the first set and took advantage of 14 unforced errors by Graf in the first seven games. Graf, who began the match with tape around her right wrist, removed the tape after falling behind 5-2.

Schnyder took a 2-1 lead in the second set with another service break. Graf immediately broke back, and the set was tied 4-4 until Schnyder broke again in the ninth game. She then held serve for the victory.

Graf, who has won 21 Grand Slam tournament singles titles and held the No. 1 ranking for a record 374 weeks, has been trying to work back into top form after left knee surgery last year.

She skipped the U.S. Open following the surgery last year, but had not been eliminated this early since losing in the first round as a 15-year-old in 1984.

While Graf was defeated, several other top women’s seeds advanced to the quarterfinals.

Top-seeded Martina Hingis and No. 6 Monica Seles advanced toward a battle in the women’s quarterfinals, despite struggling in fourth-round matches. Also winning was No. 3 Jana Novotna.

Jan-Michael Gambill and Geoff Grant came within a few points of glory Sunday, but within a span of 14 minutes both were losers -- joining most of the tournament’s other American men in defeat.

As the U.S. Open completed its first week, only two American men -- former champions Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi -- remained on court. A tournament once dominated by its host nation has turned into a showcase for global tennis.

The number of Americans in the men’s main draw, which does not include wild cards and qualifiers, has declined steadily over the last two decades. In 1981, there were 74 U.S. men in the main draw. This year there were 10.

The men lost another seeded player when No. 5 Richard Krajicek withdrew in the second set of his match against Thomas Johansson with tendinitis in his left knee. The winners included No. 7 Alex Corretja, No. 11 Yevgeny Kafelnikov and No. 13 Tim Henman.

Gambill, expected to make his Davis Cup debut for the United States later this month, lost 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to French Open champion Carlos Moya in a three-hour match in which both players tossed rackets in frustration.

With his family leading rhythmic clapping and fans chanting “U-S-A, all the way,” Gambill took a 4-3 lead in the final set and was up 40-15 on his serve. But Moya, nursing a right ankle injury, rallied to win the game and get back on serve.

After his shot sailed long to give Moya the game, Gambill stood forlornly at the net -- bent at the waist, staring down at the court.