THE biggest upset in the history of Wimbledon's women's competition
occurred on the stroke of seven o'clock last night. Steffi Graf, the
odds-on favourite and five-times champion, crashed out in straight sets,
7-5, 7-6, to 30-year-old Lori McNeil from California, unseeded and
ranked twenty-second in the world.
It was the first time in the 101 years of the tournament that a
defending women's champion had been eliminated in the first round. Yet
it was a thoroughly deserved victory. ''She was better than me on the
day,'' admitted Steffi.
This was a day of vile weather, a blustery, snell wind interspersed by
periods of rain, an afternoon as grey as the Prime Minister's suits,
Mid-summer's Day in fact. The match started at 2.0pm and the players
were off twice.
But throughout, it was McNeil who managed to retain control and
concentration. Her serve and volley game held together as the German's
backhand crumbled.
''Of course it is the greatest win of my career,'' said the charming
black lady originally from San Diego, but now living in Texas. How did
she prepare? ''I washed the dishes this morning.''
Steffi was dignified in defeat. ''Of course the conditions were
difficult, yet it was the same for both players. I am disappointed but I
am not going to kill myself.''
The match climaxed in a thrilling tie-break in which the first seven
points went against the serve. Graf missed a smash she would normally
put away in her sleep and also double-faulted.
McNeil ultimately was presented with three match points. The champion
saved two with fine volleys, but her vulnerable backhand gave way on the
third. The great Graf had gone with the wind.
Steffi marched on to Centre Court with a 1994 record which read wins
42, losses 2. Yet the last time she had met McNeil -- in New York -- the
American had won in straight sets.
A repeat of that seemed remote when Miss McNeil opened with a double
fault. But she held her service game and immediately, a cunning lob the
key shot, broke that of the champion.
Steffi popped out early for the next game like a boxer eager for the
bell. The bulleting forehand, always her lethal weapon, whizzed past
Lori and the break back was immediate. But at 3-2 down, the German was
again in trouble.
Two crisp volleys set McNeil up for yet another service break and when
Graf netted a backhand it was 4-2. Steffi never surrenders; she was
obviously unhappy in the conditions but she broke back with a series of
ferocious cross-court shots.
At 5-5, the rains appeared, for the first time in two years
incidentally. Surely the break would be better for the champ.
Not so. McNeil resumed by confidently winning her service game. Graf
overhit a simple volley, then buried a forehand. Suddenly Lori had two
set points.
The first was saved by a brilliant backhand pass. Then Steffi
committed the cardinal sin -- a double fault. The first set was gone
almost before a stunned crowd had realised.
Talking to herself all the time, Graf began to repair the damage. She
pounced in the fourth game, breaking the McNeil serve the second of
which lacked any real menace. At 3-2, and 4.37pm, the clouds burst
again.
When they returned, Steffi got to 5-3 and had a set point. Lori
rescued herself with an ace then played brilliantly to even the score at
5-5. History was ready to be made.
So who, apart from McNeil, are likely to be among the most serious
women challengers? I spotted a couple yesterday. Ninth-seeded Lindsay
Davenport is hard to miss, 6ft 2ins, she has not been spared the porage.
Still 18, she hits the ball as though she hates it and Julie Halard of
France could only muster five games against her.
There is another substantial threat, the third seed Conchita Martinez
from Spain. A very pleasant Canadian lady, Rene Simpson-Alter, was quite
ruthlessly brushed aside 6-1, 6-3 before lunch had even been served.
Miss Martinez has beaten Graf and was the first Spanish woman to reach
a Wimbledon semi-final since the tournament went open. She also rides
Harley Davidson motor bikes and loves soccer -- she would make a fine
sweeper.
Women's tennis may lack depth, it certainly is not short of height or
weight.
In fact, the new favourite, at 3-1, is the second seed Arantxa Sanchez
Vicario. McNeil's odds have been cut from 100-1 to 7-1.
It was back to business as usual for the Brits. Out on Court 13 was
Essex man Mark Petchey, where he was given a chance of beating the Swede
Jonas Bjorkman. Alas, no.
Mark made a fight of it, taking the third and fourth sets, before
collapsing 6-1 in the decider. There's a new story.
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