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 Kournikova, Kafelnikov hit exits Sampras, Graf among 1st-round Wimbledon winners
Posted: Monday June 22, 1998 05:51 PM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Wimbledon lost two title contenders on opening day Monday when Anna Kournikova withdrew because of a thumb injury and Yevgeny Kafelnikov was ousted in the first round. While Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles were among winners Monday, Kournikova said she could not play because of torn and strained ligaments in her right thumb. She will be unable to play or practice for at least three weeks. "I was hoping a miracle would happen or it would get better," she said. "But this morning when I woke up it was very difficult for me to move the finger." The 17-year-old Russian, a 1997 Wimbledon semifinalist and No. 12 seed this year, hurt herself last Thursday during one of her biggest victories -- a three-set win over Graf at Eastbourne. Kournikova, whose glamour has made her the focus of tabloid coverage in Britain, skipped the rest of the Eastbourne event in what was originally described as a "precautionary" move. But further checks revealed a more serious injury. Kournikova was replaced in the draw by American "lucky loser" Lilia Osterloh. "I'm very sad about it," the Russian said. "This is my favorite tournament. I feel like I could do well on grass. I was getting ready for it the whole year." Another Russian, seventh-seeded Kafelnikov, lost on Centre Court to big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis, 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 6-2. Kafelnikov, winner of a Wimbledon warmup tournament in Germany, possesses an all-court game that made him one of the top title challengers. British bookmakers had rated him and Richard Krajicek as joint second favorites at 6-1 behind Sampras. Philippoussis, who had considered skipping Wimbledon after a series of early round defeats this year, served 21 aces and had 14 double faults. Conversely, Kafelnikov's serve doomed him with 22 double faults. "I haven't had a great year but there is no reason I can't win this tournament," Philippoussis said. Kafelnikov said his serving problems were due to the relentless pressure put on by the Australian. "I had no other choice -- just go for both serves," he said. "Mark picked up his game in the second set. Maybe I got tired running back and forth all the time." In a late match, British hopes were raised when No. 12 Tim Henman outlasted Jiri Novak in five sets, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2. Henman and Greg Rusedski, quarterfinalists last year, are seeking to become Britain's first male champion since 1936. It was an emotionally draining day for Graf and Seles. Graf followed Sampras on Centre Court and beat Spain's Gala Leon Garcia 6-4, 6-1. The No. 4 seed is playing her 13th Wimbledon, but her first in two years and her first Grand Slam since major knee surgery a year ago. Graf, saying she thought of retiring two months ago as injuries slowed her comeback, broke down in tears during her news conference. "I get emotional because I don't take it for granted being here," she said. "It's just special to be here." Seles, the No. 6 seed, downed Spain's Maria Antonio Sanchez Lorenzo 6-3, 6-4. Seles, whose career was disrupted by a stabbing in 1993, is coming off her inspiring run to the French Open final earlier this month, just three weeks after the death of her father Karolj. "Right now, for the past four weeks, for the first time in my life, I have time to focus on tennis," she said. "I enjoy just playing again." In her first Wimbledon appearance, 16-year-old Serena Williams beat Italy's Laura Golarsa 6-4, 6-3. Serena's sister, Venus, the No. 7 seed, plays Tuesday against Jana Nejedly. In a change from last year, the wettest Wimbledon on record, the 112th championships started in sunshine and 70-degree temperatures. Dark clouds appeared in mid-afternoon but the skies cleared again by early evening. Sampras opened play on Centre Court with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, a performance that belied the poor results that have cast doubt on Sampras' chances of defending his title. "If you can't get up for an event like this, you shouldn't be playing," said the top-seeded American, seeking his fifth championship in six years. "This place over the years has brought out the best in me. "You get more keyed up, more fired up, going out there at 2 o'clock on Monday. Over the years, it's been treating me pretty well." Sampras served an ace on the first point, closed the first set with another ace and was never troubled. He finished with 17 aces and eight double faults. The most entertaining moment came after Sampras nailed Hrbaty in the thigh with a service winner in the fourth game of the second set. Waiting to return on the next point, Hrbaty held up his racket in front of his body as mock protection, drawing laughter from Sampras and the spectators. Within seconds of Sampras winning his match, 1992 champion Agassi completed a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 victory on Court 1 over Spain's Alex Calatrava. Wearing a long-sleeved white shirt, Agassi was in full control from the baseline. Calatrava, whose left knee was treated in the second set, ended the match with a double fault. It was a convincing performance by the 13th-seeded Agassi, who has soared in the rankings since dropping to No. 141 last November. He has been bothered recently by a shoulder injury. "Even though I was out playing I wasn't there 100 percent," Agassi said. "I had my energy elsewhere in a lot of cases. I need to take it up another level in this tournament. I'm ready to do that." The highest women's seed playing Monday was No. 2 Lindsay Davenport, who cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Argentina's Florencia Labat. The first seed to lose was No. 11 Mary Pierce, with her latest Grand Slam flop a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 defeat to Elena Tatarkova of Ukraine. The first men's seed eliminated was No. 10 Alex Corretja, the French Open runner-up from Spain. He lost to American Justin Gimelstob, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 6-3. In another defeat for a clay-court specialist, 1997 French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was ousted by Australia's Jason Stoltenberg 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 10-8. In an early match, third-seeded Petr Korda, the Australian Open champion, defeated Spain's Javier Sanchez 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. Looking at home on the grass, the Czech left-hander served 16 aces and showed he could be among the top challengers. As defending champion, Sampras had the honor of starting play on Centre Court, which has new grass for the first time in 40 years. The American has lost his aura of invincibility since trouncing Cedric Pioline in last year's final. He lost in the fourth round at the 1997 U.S. Open, the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the second round of the French Open. Sampras briefly lost his No. 1 ranking to Marcelo Rios, regained it and now holds it almost by default. Nothing motivates Sampras more than Grand Slams, and with 10 Slam titles he needs just two more to equal Roy Emerson's record.
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Anna Kournikova arrives at the player's entrance at Wimbledon with a bandaged right hand Monday 