1993

STEFFI'S TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Two-time champion Steffi Graf made a triumphant return after a two year absence as she defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in two hours to win the Mazda Tennis Classic before a sell out crowd of 5,800 at the La Costa Resort & Spa.

Graf found herself down 4-0 in the first set, but she didn't panic. Instead she played more aggressively and began to hit winners with her famous forehand.

While accepting the first place check for $75,000 and the keys to a new red Mazda MX6, Graf joked with the capacity crowd.

"At 4-love, she said, I figured I had already made my flight arrangements and could catch a 2:40 flight," she said.

Sanchez Vicario, who was awarded a $30,000 check for her effort, said, "She (Graf) hit unbelievable winners. She's the best in the world."

The Spaniard, who was making her tournament debut, had an easy time in reaching the finals. Sanchez Vicario lost a total of 10 games in her first four matches. In her second round match, she blanked former tournament finalist, Ann rossman, 6-0, 6-0.

The biggest surprise of the tournament was Marketa Kochta, an 18-year-old from Munich, Germany. Kochta won two qualifying matches to reach the main draw where she won four consecutive matches in straight sets to reach the semifinals.

	Steffi Graf jokes with the crowd during the trophy presentation.

Her dream run came to an end when Sanchez Vicario eliminated her, 6-2, 6-1 in one-hour and five minutes. Kochta's run to the semifinals is the best result for a qualifier in the tournament's history.

Two-time defending champion Jennifer Capriati never had the chance to defend her title. Minutes before her first round match against Tatiana Ignatieva, she regretfully told the crowd that she had pulled a back muscle warming up and had to withdraw. The following day she withdrew from the doubles.

The tournament saw more changes in 1993. The event, which was played Aug. 2-8, was elevated to a Tier II tournament, which meant a 56-player draw and an increase in prize money to $375,000.

The top-seeded team of Gigi Fernandez and Helena Sukova won the doubles title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over second-seeded Pam Shriver and Liz Smylie. The winners split $22,500.

Tournament Notes

Early in the week, Graf suffered from dizziness and headaches, which forced her to withdraw from the doubles competition where she was scheduled to partner with Australia's Rennae Stubbs.

Vanessa Rooks of Monte Vista High School, the defending CIF-San Diego Section champion was given a wildcard into the qualifying event. She lost to Page Bartelt 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the first round.