Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 4, 1993 TAG: 9307040106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND LENGTH: Medium
Graf rarely required more help than she did Saturday, when she drifted aimlessly through the second set. She never got more assistance at a crucial time than when Novotna caved in at the end of the third set to lose 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 6-4.
"There were a few matches when I've choked, too," Graf said, though she never did it so badly for so prestigious a title.
Novotna double-faulted as she served needing one point to take a 5-1 lead in the final set. Novotna missed an easy forehand volley long and knocked an overhead into the net on the next two points for a break that made it 4-2. She failed to capitalize on two break points in Graf's next service game.
Three more double faults and the score was 4-4.
Graf, who escaped facing Mon- Duchess of Kent can only console Novotna. C3 Tabloids kept jumping. C3 Men's matchup. C3 ica Seles in the tournament or Martina Navratilova in the final, scarcely could believe Novotna was showering her with so many gifts.
As Graf served again, three Novotna errors made it 40-0, and a Graf volley gave her a 5-4 lead.
Novotna, in her first Wimbledon final, slapped an easy backhand volley wide on the first point of her service game and shrugged her shoulders and shook her head in resignation. She clubbed an easy backhand 10 feet long and appeared ready to cry. Two points later, she netted a backhand approach to set up double match point.
Graf only needed one as she drilled an overhead into an open court, tossed her racket behind her and raised her arms as she did in triumph in four of the past five years. At age 24, she won her third consecutive championship on Centre Court and her 13th Grand Slam title. Since 1982, no woman has won the Wimbledon singles title other than Graf and Navratilova.
"I don't think it's a horrible experience," Novotna said of her defeat. "I just feel it's very disappointing being really so close. It was very unfortunate in the third set."
Someone asked Graf whether she would have felt she choked if she had committed so many double faults to lose.
"I would be very, very disappointed with myself, obviously," she said, "and probably would have that feeling, yes."
Novotna had another chance to win a championship later in the day in the women's doubles final, but she and Larisa Neiland lost to Gigi Fernandez and Natalia Zvereva 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4. It was the sixth consecutive Grand Slam doubles title for the Fernandez-Zvereva team.
In the men's doubles final, Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde of Australia beat Canadian Grant Connell and American Patrick Galbraith 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
by CNB