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Graf goes softly, on a sigh

Steffi Graf's peers in professional tennis respect her decision to retire while still near the top of her game.

Reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion Lindsay Davenport, who is defending her title at the Acura Classic, said yesterday: ''It came as a little bit of a surprise and sadness as well.

''I was really expecting her to kind of end her career at the US Open. She's obviously one of the greatest players that has ever played and done so much for the sport. It's kind of amazing to think she is gone.''

Added Davenport: ''It's great she's able to quit at a time when she is number three in the world and has won a Grand Slam (the French Open) this year and reached the finals (Wimbledon) in another.

''If she just thinks it's time, I think that's great. Everybody wants to go out on their own terms. Nobody wants to go out because they can't play anymore. I know she's probably looking forward to getting on with another part of her life. Hopefully, she'll come and visit a little bit.''

Martina Hingis, who recently supplanted Davenport as world number one, said: ''She brought so much to tennis -- professionalism, athleticism. With her stepping away it's a sad day for women's tennis.

''She was a great legend and icon and still is,'' added hingis. ''Everybody will remember her as 'Steffi the great.'''

Hingis said toughness was one characteristic that made Graf tough to beat.

''I didn't like playing her because I only won two times,'' said Hingis, who lost seven of nine head-to-head meetings. ''She was in great shape all the time and you had to fight through every point, that was the hardest thing.''

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario lost 28 of 36 career matches to Graf but was saddened by her friend's decision.

''I think it is very sad, especially for the sport of tennis, because she is a great champion, a great player, a good person and friend,'' said Sanchez-Vicario. ''She has done so much for women's tennis and that is obviously going to be missed a lot for tennis and the tour. That's why she's a champion. She's the best ever.''

Sanchez-Vicario, who played Graf in six Grand Slam finals, added: ''It's going to be hard not to see her anymore, not to play against her. I'll always remember good memories...Because we are friends and it's hard to miss a friend.''

The Spaniard said there is no sigh of relief now that Graf is gone. ''Players are not happy that she will not be any more on the tour,'' she said. ''I think we think the opposite, it's a loss for the tour and the game of tennis specifically.

''She's gone through a tough situation with injuries but coming back to win the French and get to the final of Wimbledon, only a champion can do that, and she did it.''

Former tennis great Tracy Austin was not surprised about Graf's decision and admires the way Graf is going out.

''For me, the positive thing about it is that it's on her own terms,'' said Austin, who is now a tennis analyst on television.

''She felt that way after Wimbledon, she didn't want to be playing tournaments anymore. But she made herself play one more just to make sure and the feeling was correct.''

It was Austin who rudely baptised Graf into the pro ranks at Filderstadt, Germany in 1982. Despite the victory, Austin saw greatness in the making.

''I played her in her first career match ever,'' Austin said. ''She was this 14-year-old kid, who hit the ball so hard I couldn't believe it. I said to myself who is this kid?''

Austin considers Graf the best woman player ever.

''It would be tough to rank anybody higher than Steffi because of the 22 Grand Slam singles titles, she's won each of the four majors at least four times, and that is very high consistency across all surfaces."

At the ATP championship in Mason, Ohio, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi said they understood Graf's decision.

''I kind of sympathise with what she's going through because when you're at the top it is not easy to maintain,'' said Sampras, who is currently in a record 272nd overall week as the world number one player on the men's tour.

''She's had an unbelievable career, obviously one of the best ever, and I am sure it is time. She did it with a lot of class. She went out and got the job done and made the racket do the talking. I have always looked up to her, the way she approached the game. She worked very hard and is a great athlete. Winning 22 Grand Slams is not easy.''

Sampras smiled as he said that with a record-tying 12 Grand Slam singles titles in the men's game, he will never catch up to her 22 major trophies, nor the ''Golden Grand Slam'' of winning the Australian, French, US Opens and Wimbledon, plus the Olympic Gold, all in the same year -- a feat Graf achieved in 1988.

Said Agassi: ''I have really strong mixed emotions. It is certainly a loss for tennis because in my opinion, she is the best lady that has ever played, and dominated on every surface.

''On the other side of it, there is a sense of happiness for the next chapter of her life which I am sure she is looking forward to. We all have to go through it and to watch somebody who handles herself as professionally as she does go through it first, it's nice. I just hope she is resolved about it.''