FRENCH OPEN - Defending Champions ease through
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The 19-year-old West German, on the second leg of her bid to become the first woman ever to capture two Grand Slams, took just 54 minutes to get the clay-court tournament rolling as she overpowerad Benjamin on a baking Center Court at Roland Garros.
"On the first two points, she played very well," Graf said. "I was a bit surprised. I did not expect it at all. I had a little trouble at the beginning."
Graf's main rival for the women's title, Gabriela Sabatini, took five minutes longer than the West German to reach the second round. But the second-seeded Argentine, the only player to beat Graf this season, conceded two games fewer as she whitewashed Akema Nishiya of Japan 6-0, 6-0, conceding just 24 points. "Today everything went very well," Sabatini said. Although she has a 1-1 record against Graf this year, Sabatini has lost all their big-occasion meetings, including last year's U.S. Open championship match and the Olympic final in Seoul.
French Open MEN'S SINGLES
Firstround Stefan Edberg (3) d. Marian Vajda, 6-2, 6-0, 1-6, 6-3; Jakob Hlasek (6) d. Jordi Arrese, 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 97; Jimmy Connors (9) d. Martin Strelba, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, Aaron Krickstein (14) d. Richard Vogel, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0; Michael Slich d. Roger Smith, 7-5, 6-2, 6-0; Andrei Cherkasov d. Tore Meinecke, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4; Horst Skoff d. Eduardo Bengoechea, 6-1, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, Eric Winogradsky d. Javier Sanchez, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4; Jeremy Bates d. Marty Davis, 6-0, 6-4, 6-4; Olli Rahnasto d. Peter Lundgren, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Leonardo Lavalle d. Michiel Schapers, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Anders Jarryd d. Mark Koevermans, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1, 6-3; Nicholas Pereira Venezuela, def. Christian Bergstrom, Sweden, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3; Goran Prpic d. Frank Denhardt, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
WOMEN'S SINGLES First round - Steffi Graf (1) d. Camille Benjamin, 6-1, 6-1; Katerina Maleeva (9) d. Brenda Schultz, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1; Helen Kelesi (10) d. Radka Zrubakova, 6-1, 6-2; Mary Joe Fernandez (15) d. Nathalie Herreman, 6-2, 6-3; Angela Kanellopoulou d. Maria Stranlund, 6-1, 6-1; Andrea Temesvari d. Beverly Bowes, 6-4, 6-4; Andrea Farley d. Jo Durie, 6-4, 6-4; Sally Stafford d. Kumiko Okimato, 6-4, 6-4; Catherine Mothes d. Silke Frankl, 6-2, 6-2.
Cathy Caverzasio d. Ann Devries, 6-4, 6-4; Akiko Kijimuta d. Petra Langrova, 7-5, 6-1; Nicole Provis d. Donna Faber, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0; Nicole Jagerman, d. Tine Scheuer-Larsen, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2); Catherine Tanvier d. Elly Hakarni, 6-0, 6-1; Kimiko Date d. Michelle Torres, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0; Andrea Coetzer d. Veronika Martinek, 6-4, 6-1, Rence Simpson d. Meredith MacGrath, 6-1, 6-3.
