WTA TOUR WEEKLY NEWS & NOTES (Courtesy of the WTA Tour) CAPRIATI WINS FIRST WTA TOUR SINGLES TITLE IN SIX YEARS The $190,000 Internationaux de Strasbourg claycourt tennis event is just a tuneup for the French Open, but it means a lot more than that to the comeback attempt of Jennifer Capriati (USA). The unseeded 23-year-old Saturday beat second seed Elena Likhovtseva (RUS), 6-1, 6-3, to gain the tournament title, its $27,500 first prize, and a boost in her career. It was her first singles title since winning in Sydney, Australia in 1993. In her first final since losing at Sydney in 1997, Capriati did not disappoint. She closed out what appeared to be a surprisingly easy run through the draw, never dropping a set. In 1990, Capriati became the youngest player ever to be ranked in the Top 10 at the age of 14 years, 235 days, and enjoyed plenty of highlights thereafter, including a victory in the 1992 Olympics. She made it as high as No. 6, but a series of setbacks off the court helped fizzle her once promising career. Playing in her sixth tournament of 1999, Capriati moved up 60 spots in the world rankings, to No. 53. "I think the depth of women's tennis is better now than before," said Capriati, who broke in when Steffi Graf was dominating women's tennis. "All the players are stronger now and I'm stronger physically. I think I'm a better player now than when I was in the top 10 because my maturity level has grown and I'm smarter on the court in some ways, but I still wish that I was younger." Along the way, she took out Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA), sixth-seeded Cara Black (ZIM), top-seeded Nathalie Tauziat (FRA) and Denisa Chladkova (CZE). On Thursday, she lost only one game to Tauziat, completing her rain-delayed match with Black earlier in the day. "It's great. I'm thrilled," Capriati said. "I beat Elena at the `96 Lipton, but from then and now, there is a difference in my game. I'm moving better and I'm in good physical condition." In the French Open, Capriati will face Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) in the first round. "Anything is possible, but I'm focusing on my first match," the American said. "I've had many steps in my comeback and this is just another step. Harold Solomon (coach) has helped me a lot. I needed a good coach who understands the game and he was also a good player. That's what I really needed to put everything together. We also get along very well. "Hopefully, I will keep going forward with more wins and with everything. Hopefully, this is the start of good things. This is definitely a confidence booster. I can go into Roland Garros and win some matches. Before, I used to go on the court and think I would lose, now I feel I can win matches." It was Capriati's seventh career title, including her Olympic gold medal. Likhovtseva was in the final there for the first time in three appearances, bettering her semifinal effort in 1998. It was her first final since winning the Gold Coast Women's Classic in Australia in 1997, her second career victory, and first since 1993. "When Jennifer plays well, she can hit some unbelievable shots," Likhovtseva said. "I was tired not physically, but maybe mentally. I had the singles semifinals and two doubles matches yesterday and hope that it rains a little bit at Roland Garros so that I can recover." Unseeded at the French Open, Likhovtseva will meet Katarina Studenikova (SVK) in the opening round. Defending champion Irina Spirlea (ROM) and 1998 finalist Julie Halard-Decugis (FRA) did not compete this week. Halard-Decugis lost to Martina Hingis in the final of the German Open two weeks ago. Davenport Returns To Win Second WTA TOUR Title of 1999 Top seed Lindsay Davenport of the United States appears ready for the French Open. Davenport downed Argentine qualifier Paola Suarez, 6-1, 6-3, today to win her first title in five months at $180,000 Yellow Pages Open. She cruised through the first set in just 21 minutes and closed out her 20th career tournament victory in a little under an hour. Competing in her first event in over a month due to a wrist injury, Davenport had not won a tournament since claiming the Sydney International at Australia in January. Today's triumph, which brought the American $27,000, was also her first at a claycourt event since winning at Amelia Island in 1997. "This is just what I needed," Davenport said. "I needed to win some matches ahead of the French and this is really more than I expected." Seeded second at next week's French Open, Davenport's victory should give her confidence going into her first-round encounter with countrywoman Jane Chi. The reigning U.S. Open champion was a semifinalist last year at Roland Garros. "I'm very excited to go on to Roland Garros after this victory," Davenport said. "I don't think I should be underestimated." Suarez, ranked No. 109 in the world, knocked off second seed Patty Schnyder on Wednesday and sixth seed Magui Serna on Thursday but fell short of winning her second career title. She faces Emilie Loit of France in the first round next week. THEY SAID IT.... "I feel exactly the same as last year. I'm in good spirits it is just that I have been struggling with my wrist and that has made the biggest difference. Emotionally I'm feeling great and going into Roland Garros with optimism and I'm going to try and do the best that I can. I guess I am a little superstitious and that is why I am staying at the same hotel, I like it and it has a great location." -- Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP) "I feel more much more intellegent on the court this year and I know that i have been playing well going into the French. I understand the game more this year and I am going into the French win the ability to take the title." -- Venus Williams (USA) "I love Paris and I always do well here. I look forward to having another succesful tournament here. I like the clay a lot. I love to slide and run. I feel like I could stay out there all day." -- Serena Williams (USA) "I am really pleased with the way I played in Berlin and I am really looking forward to the French. I feel good about my game and my fitness level right now. The past few years, I have always lost in Berlin and then lost at Roland Garros, so I hope that this year (winning Berlin) will be a good omen for me in Paris." -- Martina Hingis (SUI) WTA TOUR WIN OF THE WEEK The WTA TOUR, in its search for the most interesting and intriguing win each week, selects a "Win of the Week." This week's Win of the Week goes to: JENNIFER CAPRIATI (USA) Jennifer Capriati's victory on Saturday over second seed Elena Likhovtseva (RUS), in the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg, gave the former Top 10 player her first WTA TOUR singles title since Sydney in 1993. Capriati's 6-1, 6-3 victory also vaulted her 60 places to in the latest WTA TOUR rankings from No. 113 to No. 53. 1999 RACE to the CHASE The Race to the CHASE CHAMPIONSHIPS of the WTA TOUR is in its fifth month! The top 16 singles players and top 8 doubles teams based on the WTA TOUR Championships Points at the end of the year, qualify for the $2,000,000 CHASE CHAMPIONSHIPS of the WTA TOUR, November 15-21, 1999 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Most Career Victories (Active Players As of May 23,1999 ) 1.Steffi Graf 889 2.Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario641 3.Jana Novotna560 4.Conchita Martinez540 5.Nathalie Tauziat506 6.Mary Joe Fernandez481 7.Lori McNeil434 8.Monica Seles421 9.Amanda Coetzer417 10.Natasha Zvereva409 Top 10 All Time Clay Court Win-Loss Percentage Leaders Chris Evert (USA) 328-20.943 Monica Seles (USA) 101-13.886 Steffi Graf (GER) 272-36.883 Conchita Martinez (ESP) 242-52.823 Martina Navratilova (USA) 210-50.808 Martina Hingis (SUI) 50-12.806 Gabriela Sabatini (USA) 203-53.793 A.Sanchez Vicario (ESP) 282-81.776 Andrea Jaeger (USA) 65-20.765 Tracey Austin (USA) 38-12.760 * As of May 23, 1999 Most Singles Titles In One Year (1971-present) Player No.Year 1.Margaret Court 181973 2.Billie Jean King 171971 3.Chris Evert 161974, 75 Martina Navratilova 161983 5.Martina Navratilova 151982 Most Career Singles Titles Player Titles 1. Martina Navratilova167 2.Chris Evert 154 3.Steffi Graf 106 4.Margaret Court 92 5.Billie Jean King 67 6.Evonne Goolagong-Cawley 65 7.Virginia Wade 55 8.Monica Seles 44 9.Helga Masthoff 37 10.Conchita Martinez 31 Olga Morozova 31 12.Tracy Austin 29 13.Hana Mandlikova 27 Gabriela Sabatini 27 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 27 16.Nancy Richey 25 17.Jana Novotna 23 Martina Hingis 23 19.Kerry Melville Reid 22 20.Sue Barker 21 Pam Shriver 21 Lindsay Davenport 21 23.Julie Heldman 20 Dianne Fromholtz-Balstrat 19 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere 19 * As of May 23, 1999 ALL TIME CAREER CLAY COURT TITLES 1Chris Evert 66 2Steffi Graf 31 3Margaret Court 24 4Conchita Martinez 18 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 18 5Martina Navratilova 17 7Virginia Ruzici 14 8Nancy Richey 13 9Monica Seles 12 10Gabriela Sabatini 11 * As of May 23, 1999 THIS WEEK ON THE WTA TOUR ROLAND GARROS City: Paris, France Dates: May 24 - June 6, 1999 Tournament Director: Patrice Clerc Tournament Site: Stade Roland Garros Prize Money: $ TBD Surface: Red Clay / Outdoor Tier Event: Grand Slam Defending Champion: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Top Players Expected: 92 of Top 100 (Main Draw) WTA TOUR Communications Staff: Brooke Lawer, Reven Oliver, Mike Broeker, Raquel Martin, John Dolan, Jim Fuhse, Vani Vosburgh WEEKS AT NUMBER ONE On February 8, 1999, Martina Hingis regained the world's No. 1 ranking from Lindsay Davenport who held the top spot for 17 straight weeks (from October 12, 1998 - February 7, 1999). Hingis is making her second stint as the WTA TOUR's No. 1 ranked player after spending 80 consecutive weeks in the top spot from March 31, 1997 to October 11, 1998. Only eight players have attained the world No. 1 ranking since the computer rankings began in 1975. Below is a complete list of players and their respective total number of weeks at No. 1 through May 24, 1999: Steffi Graf* 377 weeks Martina Navratilova331 weeks Chris Evert 262 weeks Monica Seles 178 weeks Martina Hingis** 96 weeks Tracy Austin 22 weeks Lindsay Davenport 17 weeks Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 12 weeks * Record for most career weeks at number one, man or woman ** Current No. 1 (February 8, 1999 to present). WTA TOUR BY THE NUMBERS - As of May 24, 1999 Seeded Winners 1 (7) - Lindsay Davneport (Sydney, Madrid), Jana Novotna (Hannover), Venus Williams (Oklahoma), Martina Hingis (Hilton Head, Berlin), Sanchez-Vicario (Egypt) 2 (6) - Martina Hingis (Australian Open, Tokyo), Patty Schndyer (Gold Coast), Monica Seles (Amelia Island), Amy Frazier (Japan Open), V. Williams (Hamburg) 3 (2) - Julie Halard-Decugis (Auckland), Venus Williams (Rome) 4 (2) - Henrieta Nagyova (Prostejov), Corina Morariu (Bol) 5 (2) - Chanda Rubin (Hobart), Fabiola Zuluaga (Bogota) 6 (1) - Venus Williams (Lipton) 7 (1) - Sarah Pitkowski (Budapest) 8 (0) - 9-16 (0) - Unseeded (5) - Serena Williams (Paris, Indian Wells), Katarina Srebotnik (Estoril) Cristina Torrens Valero (Warsaw), Justine Henin (Antwerpen), Jennifer Capriati (Strasbourg) Winners - Finalists by Seed No. 1 - (7-5)No. 7 - (1-2) No. 2 - (6-2)No. 8 - (0-0) No. 3 - (2-2)No. 9 - (0-0) No. 4 - (2-2)No. 10 - (0-0) No. 5 - (2-2)No. 11-16 (0-1) No. 6 - (1-1)Unseeded (6-9) No Seeds In Final (Twice in 1998) Cristina Torrens Valero d. (Q) Ines Gorrochategui 7-5, 7-6(3), Warsaw Lowest Ranked Player to Win A Singles Title (98 - Hrdlickova, #140, Makarska) Justine Henin, #178, Antwerpen First Time Singles Titles (six in 98) (6) - Zuluaga (Bogota), S. Williams (Paris), K. Srebotnik (Estoril), Pitkowski (Egypt), Morariu (Bol), Torrens Valero (Warsaw), Henin (Atwerpen) One vs. Two Seeds in Final (10 times in 98) (2) Schnyder d. (1) Pierce - 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 - Gold Coast, Jan. 9 (1) Davenport d. (2) Hingis - 6-4, 6-3 - Sydney, Jan. 16 (2) Frazier d. (1) Sugiyama 6-2, 6-2 - Japan Open, Apr. 18 Youngest Singles Winner ('98 - Lucic, Bol, 16 yrs, 1 month, 24 days) Justine Henin, Antwerpen, 16 yrs, 11 months, 15 days Oldest Singles Winner ('98 - Novotna, Prague, 29 yrs, 9 mths, 24 days) Jana Novotna, Hannover, 30 years, 4 months, 17 days Fewest Games Lost in Winning Singles Title 14 - Monica Seles (Amelia Island), 13 - Sanchez-Vicario (Egypt) Title Defense (five in 98) 3 - Martina Hingis (Australian Open), Venus Williams (Oklahoma, Lipton) Top Four Seeds in Semi-Finals (five times in 98) Gold Coast - Pierce, Schnyder, Spirlea, Sugiyama Auckland - Van Roost, Farina, Halard-Decugis, Schett Singles and Doubles Tournament Title Winners (11 times in '98) Martina Hingis (w. Kournikova) - Australian Open Sanchez-Vicario (w. Courtois) - Egypt Most Games, One Match 39 - A. Sanchez-Vicario d. Corina Morariu, 2r, Berlin - 7-6 (0), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6) Double Bagels - 5 (13 times in '98) (LL) M. Oremans d. (Q) E. Loit, Hannover, Feb. 16 (10) C. Martinez d. A. Fusai, Hilton Head, March 30 (4) M. Pierce d. C. Cristea, Amelia Island, April 7 J. Abe d. L. Golarsa, Estoril, April 5 P. Begrow d. (WC) M. Elwany, Egypt, April 19 Longest Tiebreak 21-19 Emanuelle Gagliardi d. Tara Snyder, Madrid, 6-7 (19), 6-1, 6-1 Titles-Finalists By Country (Players from 14 different countries won titles in '98) Switzerland 5-1Romania 0-2Belgium1-1 United States12-1Greece 0-1Germany0-1 Slovakia 1-0South Africa0-2 Colombia 1-0Italy 0-2 Czech Republic 1-0Argentina0-2 France 2-8Russia 0-2 Slovania 1-0Hungary 0-1 Spain 2-1Japan 0-1 Longest Match Win Streaks (Novotna had Tour best 19 in '98) 16 - Serena Williams (Feb. 22- March 28) 11 - Martina Hingis (Jan. 18th-Feb. 26 ) 9 - Venus Williams, (Apr. 26 - present), Lindsay Davenport (Jan. 10th to Jan. 28th)  