Steffi Graf is returning to the tennis court for the first time in six years, but don't call it a comeback.
The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion interrupted her retirement yesterday to play with the Houston Wranglers of the World Team Tennis Pro League.
"It's hard for me to call it a comeback. It's too early to say if there will be more. It's hard with all the schedules. If it works out, maybe there is another one," Graf said.
Yesterday's match was Graf's only one this season as a member of the Wranglers. Houston will take on the Sacramento Capitals, led by Anna Kournikova at Houston's Westside Tennis Club.
Much has changed in the 36-year-old Graf's life since she retired in August 1999 as the third-ranked player in the world.
She married Andre Agassi and had two children -- a boy in 2001 and a girl in 2003.
"Time is a big factor. For a few years, I barely played. It's not easy with my husband still on tour. It's been a challenge to stay in shape," she said.
Graf, who won 107 career singles titles, said juggling the demands of motherhood and her charity work made it difficult to establish a strict training regimen.
"This year I just picked up the racket more frequently than I have in the last five years. I've practiced quite a bit the past two weeks, but before that it was very sporadic," she said.
She acknowledges being "very nervous" about the match but also excited about her return.
"It's huge that she is putting her toe in the water," said Ilana Kloss, WTT chief executive officer and commissioner.
"I think she's going to see how she feels ... but we're absolutely thrilled to have her," Kloss said.
Graf said the generosity that Wranglers owners Jim and Linda McIngvale have shown to her and Agassi's foundations over the years was a major factor in her decision to play again.
Graf played an exhibition match last year in Germany against Gabriela Sabatini.
Graf said she has been trying to strengthen her knees and back after suffering several injuries during her playing career.
She's looking forward to playing in front of a crowd in the fan-friendly format of the WTT, but she cautioned against high expectations.
"How can I be the same? I live a different lifestyle in general. I think they will see that I'm a little more relaxed than I used to be. It will be interesting to see how it's going to work tomorrow [yesterday]," she said.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
RSS