Sport

Trial had no effect says Graf

STEFFI GRAF yesterday broke her silence about her father's conviction for tax evasion, saying it was not affecting her play.

Thu Jan 30 1997 - 00:00

STEFFI GRAF yesterday broke her silence about her father's conviction for tax evasion, saying it was not affecting her play.

Graf also said she had never thought of leaving Germany because of high taxes on her earnings.

The German world number one ended a week of personal and sporting problems with an easy victory over Lisa Raymond of the United States in the second round of the Pan-Pacific Women's Open.

For the first time since her father was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail by a German court last Friday, Graf did not brush aside a question from the media about the case.

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"No, it didn't affect my game," she told a news conference.

Peter Graf was convicted of evading tax of £4.5 million on his daughter's earnings. Steffi Graf is also under investigation in the affair.

Commenting on reports that, like fellow German Boris Becker, she might consider living outside Germany because of high taxes, Graf said: "That is absolutely not in my mind at the moment. I've never said anything like that."

Looking relaxed for the first time in days, Graf won the hour long match against Raymond 6-3 6-2. The last time the pair met was three years ago in San Diego. Then, Graf needed three sets, including a tiebreaker to win.

Graf, who last week was surprisingly knocked out of the Australian Open in the fourth round after problems with an infected toe and heat exhaustion, made her return to tennis on Tuesday in an exhibition doubles match with American Pam Shriver, which she also won.

In the indoor match against Raymond, the German did not drop her serve once and pronounced herself fully fit again.

"There's room for improvement, but I felt pretty good for my first match (in a week)," she said. "My injured toe hasn't been a factor for days."

Graf stopped to sign autographs after the match, but had to run to safety when fans broke through ropes holding them back.

Australian Open champion Martina Hingis, the second seed, swept to a 6-1 6-0 victory over Italy's Gloria Pizzichini in her second-round match. Like Graf, she had a bye through the first round.