Tennis Roundup : Sabatini Makes It Two in Row Over Graf

Third-seeded Gabriela Sabatini rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the third set Saturday to upset top-seeded Steffi Graf, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, in the semifinals of a $300,000 women’s tennis tournament at Amelia Island, Fla.

In today’s final, Sabatini takes on second-seeded Martina Navratilova, who beat fourth-seeded Claudia Kohde-Kilsch of West Germany, 6-3, 6-2.

Sabatini’s upset was her second consecutive victory over Graf, the world’s top-ranked player. Last month, the 17-year-old Argentine defeated the 18-year-old West German in the final of a Virginia Slims tournament at Boca Raton, Fla., 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Graf still leads the series, 11-2.

With the match tied at one set each, Graf raced to a 3-0 lead in the third set and looked as if she would quickly end Sabatini’s bid.

“I thought I was going to lose the match,” Sabatini said. “Graf always plays very well in the third set.”

But Sabatini, admittedly nearing exhaustion, charged back to even the set at 3-3, breaking Graf’s serve at love in the fifth game.

Hitting great passing shots, including one that went between her legs, Sabatini stayed with Graf to 5-5. Then, in the 11th game, she broke Graf and served out the match without giving up a point.

“I choked badly,” Graf said. “I wasn’t playing the right points at the right times.”

Navratilova defeated Sabatini last week in three sets in Hilton Head Island, S.C. She has won 8 of their 10 matches since 1986.

At Tokyo, John McEnroe overcame a weak serve to advance to the final of the $752,500 Suntory Japan Open with a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 victory over Brad Gilbert.

McEnroe faces defending champion Stefan Edberg in today’s final for the $122,250 first prize. The top-seeded Swede defeated Tim Mayotte, 6-2, 6-2.

Fourth-seeded Patty Fendick beat sixth-seeded Stephanie Rehe, 6-3, 7-5, to win the women’s championship.

McEnroe, seeded seventh, failed on 48% of his first serves and double-faulted on a match point before finally putting Gilbert away with an ace.

Henri Leconte of France came back from match point at 5-1 in the second set and won nine straight games en route to a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over top-seeded Andrei Chesnokov of the Soviet Union in the semifinals of a $145,000 tournament at Nice, France.