OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 5.30pm.
FORMER world number-one Steffi Graf beat South African Amanda Coetzer 6-3 7-5 to wrap up the Spar Challenge in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Graf won the first leg in Durban last Tuesday but Coetzer came back to capture the second match in Stellenbosch on Friday.
Graf took command from the outset on Sunday but Coetzer held a precarious lead lead in the second set, but a set point on her own serve was neutralised by a Graf forehand.
Graf again received a standing ovation as she walked onto the court.
The altitude seemed to take it’s toll on both players, but Graf settled in quicker and established a 4-0 lead.
Coetzer began to find her form in the second set and broke Graf’s serve in the second game, but could not move into a 3-0 lead.
Coetzer then started to play near the net and in the eighth game she went ahead 5-3.
Graf, however, would take no lying down and she moved into a 6-5 lead, closing the match down on her first match point when Coetzer’s return sailed over the baseline.