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Show The Salt Lake T ibune TENNIS D3 Graf Squeaks Past Williamsin Thriller BY FRANK FITZPATRICK THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER WIMBLEDON, There have England been other Centre Court pairings when almost every shot whizzed over the net like full-throttle Indy cars. Other matches played with the power and pace of Thursday's Steffi Graf-Venus Williams match But they were usually played by men With the ball traveling back and forth like Porsches on the aw tobahn, Graf prevailed over the relentless American teenager. 6-2. 3-6, 6-4, in a rain-delayed but riv eting Wimbledon quarterfinal that began just after 1 p.m. and ended in the gloomy English twilight “That was unbelievable tennis today,” said Graf. “It was at sucha high level The match might have marked the full floweringof power tennis in the women’s game an era that Graf, a seven-time champion here. helped usher in with her incredi n/The AssociatedPress Germany's Steffi Graf reacts after beating Venus Williams, of the United States, in a Women's Singles quarterfinal on Wimbledon's Centre Court WIMBLEDON TEN NIS CHAMPIONSHIPS WIMBLEDON. England Results ‘Thur day of tne Wimbledon tenis chamipanships. the AI England Lawn Tenn ‘Croat Clu V Quar bly forceful ground strokes. One of Williams’ rocket serves reached 120 miles an hour, a speed exceeded only by the top male players here. But Graf was able to answer many of them. She consis: tently stuck forceful shots deep into the corners only to watch Williams frequently return them just as rapidly and just as deeply “Everyone that came into the locker room afterward Virginia Wade, Pam Shriver said, ‘Wow that was an incredible match, H's singles Anais said Graf They were not the only ones who believed this year’s Wimble don champion would emerge from Spee @hins Rees at Winibtedon THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, the baseline, Dokic took a 5-1 lead WIMBLEDON, England The most important match of their lives turned into soggy chaos Thursday for Wimbledon upstarts Jelena Dokic and Alexandra and was servingat 40-30 for the second set when a light shower forced the court to be covered the second time the match was The 18-year-old Stevenson swept through the first set of the quarterfinal 6-3, hitting and capitalizing on faults by the seven aces five double 16-year-old Australian “Focus, Alexandra, Stevenson's mother shouted Samantha during the second set The young American did just the opposite Regaining her serving touch and hammering Steve: nson from the match, which f time of just I must outside wate a af the le and Williams mat Jana Novotna, champion who American th day's quarterfinal that the winner of t would be, could be the this tournament The start of the Gr 1 Williams quarterfinal wa’ delayed by more than an hour The light rait that fell poradically all day al caused it to be halted three times Graf and Williams spent gaps, the longest of which was nearly three hours long women’s locker room. 7 year-old German, the No, 2 s played cards and read. William No. 6, watched replays of the al Fiona Hanson The Associated Pross ready completed portion of the America’s VenusWilliams sits match 1 don’t know why you would Steffi Graf at Wimbledon on Thu: want to that,” The last said Graf with the liams leading 2-1 in the third, re sumed at 7:41 p.m. Darker clouds rolled in immediately and soon the two ranked woman were play ingin the gloaming The delays didn’t bother me said Williams, 19. “You have to be prepared during a delay to anytime. Ironically, play at Tcould see fine during the longest stoppage, the BBC ill of her shots so hard and her serve is so great Mirjana Lucie w i completed and the winner will ph ay Grat semifinals. Tauziat won the first et 6-4 and the second set was tied to play so well quarterfinal. Graf said this i9-yearold V ympared to William: segment, match tied at a set apiece and Wil showed a re at against Germany's jectedly after he sday. Gral dete ated Williams 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 1 ind Graf Venus hits said Graf. “Twasjusthappy toable against her in a at v Toda 1 schedule com. pressed by the frequent rain of this second week. the incomplete itch between Nathalie Tauziat, Court swan song I've said before that she ha the potential to be the world’s toy ranked player,” said Graf"Sht the No. 8 has unseeded seed from Croatian ay of the Chris Evert-Martina ratilova championship match here in 1978. The contrast between, it and the 1999 match was striking The forehands and serves of the two tennis greats seemed to be in slow motion France, ( and the game. She's got the phy sique and the game NO COVER WITH THIS AD Tetmatali: ey stopped by rain It was on n Court ind. 2,000 hopingto a MOUNTAIN RALIWAYS Monday, July 5 SLVRA Sprint Cars Fireworks, J-Mac Dash for Cash see the light rain stop, the match concluded and maybe see Andre. assi vs. Gustavo Kuerten later on the same court Forget it Dokic and Stevenson will finish their quarterfinal today as only two matches were completed Thursday The winner will become the first woman qualifier to reach the semifinals in Wimbledon’s 113 year history PPG Modifieds, Legends, Rocky Mtn. ete eS ee Figure & Train Cars. Fireworks! 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