Graf's grass plans are cut short

Steffi Graf's attempt to get further grass-court practice before Wimbledon came to an abrupt halt when the DFS Classic at Birmingham was abandoned because of heavy rain yesterday.

Graf was due to resume her semi-final with Nathalie Tauziat of France in the morning, having lost the first three games on Sunday when only nine minutes play was possible on the Centre Court.

Elena Likhovtseva of Russia and Yayuk Basuki of Indonesia were due to play the other semi-final but now all four will receive semi-final ranking points and prize money.

Tournament referee Ann Jones said the Centre Court was unplayable. She considered moving the tournament indoors but three of the four semi-finalists must play in the Direct Line Championships in Eastbourne today.

Graf has a first-round bye at Eastbourne but agreed to abandon the Birmingham tournament.

"It's very disappointing that the weather has been as bad as it has been," she said. "I'm just hoping the weather will be better at Eastbourne and Wimbledon."

The 29-year-old former world number one has not played at Eastbourne since she was a junior; when she entered two years ago she injured herself in practice.

Jana Novotna and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario shared the title last year when the final was washed out and they are top and third seeds respectively this year, with Graf seeded second.

The line-up also includes Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus.

Graf, has been given a special rating of number three in the world by the Women's Tennis Association to protect her seeding in tournaments. Officially now ranked 91st, Graf will be bidding for her eighth Wimbledon singles title and 22nd Grand Slam victory when the championships start next Monday.

The German has been seeded fourth for Wimbledon behind world number one Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Jana Novotna, but ahead of French Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, seeded five, and her old rival Monica Seles, six.

Pete Sampras, winner of four Wimbledon titles in five years, heads the men's seedings. Chilean Marcelo Rios is second. French Open champion Carlos Moya is fifth while the resurgent Andre Agassi creeps in at number 13.