Re: 格拉芙重拾球拍上賽場 週二將參加世界網球團體賽
原文的新聞稿:
Tuesday, 12 July 2005: Steffi Graf is returning to the tennis court for the
first time in six years, but don't call it a comeback.
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 is interrupting her retirement on
Tuesday to play with the Houston Wranglers of the World Team Tennis Pro
League.
"It's hard for me to call it a comeback," Graf said.
"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."
Tuesday's match is 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 has two children - a boy in 2001 and a girl
in 2003.
"Time is a big factor," Graf said. "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."
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," she said. "I've practiced quite a bit the past two weeks,
but before that it was very sporadic."
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."
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.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 203.203.34.44
討論串 (同標題文章)
完整討論串 (本文為第 2 之 2 篇)：
Graf 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
