Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 38

E4 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Sunday, August 13, 1989 lie's Still Same Person nchez Says Upset of Graf, French Open Title Haven't Changed 17-Year-01d Nelson Stays In Slims Hunt With Her 1st Pro Victory By Barbara Armijo Qualifying event today: $3 for adults and $1 for juniors and senior citizens. Main Draw Tournament: Monday through Thursday: Play begins at 11 a.m. Feature matches will start no earlier than 5:30 p.m. 'Mon, Tues: all tickets $6. Wed, Thur: all tickets $7.

Fri: all tickets $10, Sat: all tickets $16. Sun: finals, singles and doubles, all tickets are $20. Parking: Shuttle buses will be available to transport spectators from three Park-and-Ride locations. Parking will be $2 at Mountain Run Shopping Center, the corner of Juan Tabo and Eubank boulevards, and at a dirt lot at the end of Eubank north of Academy Road. Shuttles will run continuously between the lots and Tanoan Country Club.

i xf 4 K'" if i By Barbara Armijo JOURNAL STAFF WRITER French Open tennis champions named Chris and Martina probably haven't taken a ride on the back of a golf cart lately. But one named Arantxa hopped on the back of one, let her coach sit in the passenger seat and let her medium-length black hair whip back as the cart approached a waiting flock of cameras and reporters. Arantxa Sanchez, seeded No. 1 in the Virginia Slims of Albuquerque and ranked fifth in the world, took her chariot ride after practicing for the first time at Tanoan Country Club. The Slims of Albuquerque will be the first tournament she'll play in the United States since winning the French Open in June.

Sanchez looks at ease in front of cameras, and she does what not many professional champions do once in the limelight she looks you in the eye when she talks and blushes when you mention her winnings, which total $402,523 this year. "I'm still same person as I was before (the) French," she said. "Now I concentrate on winning here in Albuquerque. This is a very good tournament and very good players here. I'm just hoping to play well here, and that takes my concentration." Sanchez picked up a racket at the age of 3 and, with an older sister and two older brothers, it was more for protection than devotion, she said giggling.

"I get spoiled, yes," said Sanchez, 17, and the youngest ever to win the French Open. "But I got to see them win at tennis. All of them play, and I had to watch, but I grew to love it. Every day I would see them, then when I pick up the racquet, I say, 'I want to be a champion, Sanchez's oldest brother, Emilio, is in the top 20 in men's tennis. Younger brother Javier was the No.

1 junior in the world in 1986 and recently won his first tournament. Her oldest sister Marisa is also a tennis player, though now she attends graduate school after earning her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University. Aranxta, like her siblings, was born as a tennis player on the clay courts of Barcelona. Winning the French Open on clay was a dream come true for her. Her coach, Juan Nunez, said the French victory should have been no surprise to anyone.

"She had been coming along," said Nunez, also a Spaniard. "She had gone to PERSONAL: Reggi has won five titles since turning pro in '82. Once ranked as high as No. 13, she has begun her climb back in the rankings after a strong tournament at Eastbourne. The Italian also has a Grand Slam mixed doubles crown, with Sergio Casal.

Reggi eliminated Chris Evert from '88 Olympics. Likes to be called "Raffi." ELNA REINACH, 20, Johannesburg, South Africa Ranked 60. '89 Highlights: Semifinals, Birmingham. PERSONAL: Reinach had a strong year in '88. Her ranking peaked at 28.

She is one of the top players in the Dominos Pizza Team Tennis league, is its Rookie of the Year and leads the league in prize money for two consecutive years. ARANTXA SANCHEZ, 17, Barcelona, Spain Ranked 5. '89 Highlights: Winner, French Open; winner, Barcelona; runner-up, Italian. PERSONAL: Sanchez became the youngest French Open winner when beating Steffi Graf in June. Prior to this year, she had only one title, the 88 Belgian Open.

She was the Women's International Tennis Association "Most Improved Player" in '88. She has career wins over Raffaella Reggi, Nathalie Herreman, Bettina Fulco and Mariana Perez-Roldan. Oldest brother Emilio is among the mens Top 20. Youngest brother Javier was the world's No. 1 -ranked junior in '86.

An upstart baseline who prefers clay surfaces, she is seeded No. 1 in the Albuquerque tournament. SUSAN SLOANE, 18, Lexington, Ky. Ranked 21. '89 Highlights: Semifinals, Slims of Kansas; semifinals, Slims of Houston; quarterfinals, Strasbourg.

PERSONAL: Sloane won her first pro title last November at the Virginia Slims of Nashville, vaulting her into the Top 30. Consistent play this year has moved her into the Top 20 for the first time. ANNE SMITH, 30, San Antonio, Texas Ranked 75. '89 Highlights: Has not played since January '89. PERSONAL: Smith is returning to the Virginia Slims Series after a lengthy layoff to recover from injuries.

She has played only one match this year, losing in the first round at Sydney. One of the great doubles players, Smith has eight Grand Slam doubles titles. JANINE THOMPSON, 21, Sydney, Australia Ranked 85. '89 Highlights: Winner, two Australian Satellite Events; winner, Palermo (Italian Satellite); semifinals, Adelaide. PERSONAL: Thompson has a string of strong finishes at various satellite events in '89.

She had a fourth-round finish at this year's French Open. She often pairs with Jenny Byrne to form a top doubles teams on the Series. DINKY VAN RENSBURG, 21, Johannesburg, South Africa Ranked 71. '89 Highlights: Third round, Upton and Sydney. PERSONAL: Van Rensburg had the best finish of her career reaching the finals of last year's Virginia Slims of Arizona, where she defeated Susan Sloane in the semifinals.

A strong doubles competitor, she won two doubles titles last year. Saturday's first-round qualifying results: Marianne Werdel, (1) Chris Hoffee, 6-0, 6-4; Penny Barg, d. Ann Grousbeck, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5; Kate Gompert, d. Alison Scott, Australia, 6-3, 6-2; Maya Kidowaki, Japan, d. Akemi Nishiya (6), Japan, 2-6, 6-1 6-3; Karen Shin, d.

Jennifer Satrock (4), 60, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5); Jeri Ingram, d. Valda Lake, G. Britain, 6- 2, 6-3; Pam Nelson, Debbie Ladig, Texas, 6-0, 6-0; Linda Harvey-Wild (8), d. Christine Paulsen, 6-1, 6-2; Nana Miyagi (5), Japan, d. Staci Hurff, 6-0, 6-1; Anne Simpkin.

G. Britain, d. Sara Loetscher, 6-0, 6-1; Ginger Helgeson, d. Ali Castro, Texas, 6-2, 6-1 Catherine Suire (3), France, d. Carol Neeld-Lang, 6-1, 6-3; Rikki Gaddie, S.

Africa, w. by default; Pilar Vasquez (7), Peru, d. Lindsay BarOett, 7-6 (6-4), 7-5; Kimberly Po, Calif, d. Robin Field, S. Africa, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Julie Richardson (2), N.Zealand, d.

Linda Barnard, S. Africa, 7-6 (6-3), 6-1. TODAY'S SCHEDULE CENTER COURT First match begins at 11 a others follow immediately: Gompert vs. Kidowaki; Werdel vs. Barg; Nelson vs.

Harvey-Wild. COURT 1 First match at 1 1 a.m.: Miyagi vs. Simpkin; Shin vs. Ingram; Po vs. Richarson.

COURT 2 First match 11 a.m.: Helgeson vs. Suire; Vasquez vs. Gaddie. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Aranxta Sanchez, 17, the top seed at the Virginia Slims of Albuquerque, celebrates after reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July. JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Former Albuquerque resident Pam Nelson, a top junior player, won her first match in a professional tournament Saturday, defeating Debbie Ladig of Houston, 6-0, 6-0, in the Virginia Slims of Albuquerque qualifying event.

The tournament continues today at Tanoan Country Club. Nelson, who was ranked 10th nationally in 14-and-under at age 13 last year, is scheduled for the fourth match on Center Court. The four semifinalists left today will advance into Monday's first round of the main draw tournament. Matches begin at 11 a.m. today, with Nelson's match likely to start before 5:30 p.m.

Nelson, who lives in Ross, celebrated her 14th birthday July 14, making her eligible to compete in the Slims event. She retains her amateur status. "I just made it by one month," she said. "And it feels really great to win the first match. I was so nervous, but I didn't make too many mistakes.

I had all kinds of energy. It was like I could have played forever out there." Nelson was the only player surviving the first round with any ties to Albuquerque. Also Saturday, Christine Paulsen lost to No. 8-seeded player in the qualifying event, Linda Harvey-Wild of Chicago. "The balls were just coming back to me a lot harder than I'm used to," said Paulsen, after losing to Harvey-Wild, 6-1, 6-2.

Nelson will face Harvey-Wild today. Wild-card qualifier Carol Neeld-Lang lost the first set to third-seeded Catherine Suire of France, 6-1, but overcame the jitters to make the second set more memorable. Suire knew how to win the big points, however, taking the second set, 6-3. Former University of New Mexico player Chris Hoffee had the task of trying to oust No. 1-seeded Marianne Werdel of Bakersfield, Calif.

Werdel advanced, however, after beating Hoffee in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4. Some players didn't arrive in time to sign in for the qualifying event, which" gave women who tried for berths in the wild-card tournament an opportunity to play for a main draw spot. Most all of the late enrants went down at the hands of more experienced players. Former Albuquerque Academy star Staci Hurff was defeated by Japan's Nana Miyagi, 6-0, 6-3. Ali Castro of El Paso lost to Ginger Helgeson of Del Mar, 6-2, 6-1.

Ladig also was a late entrant. Albuquerque's Sara Loetscher fell to Anne Simpkin of Great Britain, 6-0, 6-1. "They might not have won matches, but it gave them a chance to play with some of the best in the world," said tournament promoter Sharon Walsh-Pete. "I think the experience alone is worth it to them." NOTES: Arantxa Sanchez, the tournament's No. 1 seed, probably won't play her first match until Tuesday.

The official schedule will be available this evening. Attendance for Saturday's qualifying event was higher than most tournaments on the Slims Series, said Women's International Tennis Association operations coordinator-tour director Jean Nachand. Spectators seemed to appreciate the three courts of constant action. Nearly half of the stadium court was filled for Paulsen's and Hoffee's matches. Other fans found spots on the grass surrounding the Nos.

1 and 2 courts. Bowler Lorrie Nichols JEntered in Albuquerque Open By dirt, was that three semifinals in a row before the French, losing to Graf once and then to (Gabriella) Sabatini twice. She was progressively getting to a final and then once she was there she had to go for it with all she had." And if you ask Sanchez, that's exactly what it took. "I played the match of my life there," she said. Sanchez proved that Graf is beatable and that preparing as a clay-court player would have its rewards.

Now, Sanchez is faced with trying to prove herself on other surfaces. Her skeptics predicted an early exist from the grass at Wimbledon. Sanchez got to the quarterfinals before losing to Graf, 7-5, 6-1. "Before she honestly said she couldn't win on other surfaces," said Nunez. "Now, she nows she can play anybody on any surface whether it's grass or now hardcourt." Sanchez, an upstart baseliner, has found out that she must adapt her strokes to fit every surface.

"I can't just stay back anymore," she said. "My coach and I have worked on my strong points and making them work from anywhere on court." Nunez said Sanchez's goal was to be in the top 10 this year. She's done much more than that and is a much-improved volleyer since winning the French. And for the people who say Sanchez will fade on the hardcourts of the U.S. Open, Sanchez has one comment.

"I want to be No. 1 someday," she said, "and that means playing my best on all surfaces. I like remembering winning the French, but now it's time to win here, next Toronto and then the U.S. Open." PHOTO BY CAROL L. NEWSOM No.

2 seed Manuela Maleeva Oldest of three sisters on tour PHOTO BY CAROL L. NEWSOM No. 3 seed Susan Sloane Won first pro title in November Glory Nichols has 13 pro titles to her credit and said the desire to compete still is there despite the growing number of fine younger players. "What I think makes the younger players so much better is they're able to compete in high school and college," she said. "If I wanted to bowl (competitively), I would have had to join the tour and bowl.

"Last week, Judy Soutar and I made a bet. She's eight years older than I am (Soutar is 45), and she bet me $100 that in eight years I'd still be out here (on tour)." NOTES: The adult Pro-Am concludes tonight. The winner receives $1,000. The pros begin 18 games of qualifying Monday, with the field being cut to the top 24 by Wednesday morning. The stepladder finals are scheduled for 6 o.m.

Thursday. 'V Mr 7-- VX if 0 I 'fx La KATHRIN KEIL, 26, Los Angeles, Calif. Ranked 189. '89 Highlights: Second round, Australian Open. PERSONAL: Keil, an Albuquerque native, made a dramatic return to the tour in '86 after a 14-month layoff by winning three USTA satellite events.

She is a wildcard entry into the main draw in this tournament. Father Klaus is the director of the Meteoritics Institute at UNM. Brother Mark is a tennis professional. PEANUT LOUIE-HARPER, 28, San Francisco, Calif. Ranked 84.

'89 Highlights: Third round, Virginia Slims of Florida. PERSONAL: Turns 29 Tuesday. She has won four titles since turning pro in 1978. She was Tennis magazine's "Comeback Player of the Year" in '86, cracking the top 20 for the first time. Her given name is Mareen, but has always been called Peanut by family and friends.

She is the youngest of five children. MANUELA MALEEVA 22, Sofia, Bulgaria Ranked 7. '89 Highlights: Winner, Virginia Slims ot Indian Wells; winner, European Open; quarterfinals, French Open. PERSONAL: The oldest of three sisters in the Virginia Slims Series. She has 1 2 titles since turning professional in '82.

She won a bronze medal at the '88 Olympics. She considers her greatest obstacle coming from a country unknown for producing tennis players. LORI MCNEIL, 24, Houston, Texas Ranked 24. '89 Highlights: Runner-up, Pan Pacific; quarterfinals, Virginia Slims of Houston; fourth round, Wimbledon. PERSONAL: One of only six players to win a set from Steffi Graf in '88 (she won two).

McNeil has been on the comeback trail in '89. She's slipped to her lowest ranking in over four years. No titles this year, but four since turning pro in '83. RACHEL MCQUILLAN, 18, Merewether, New S. Wales, Australia Ranked 86.

'89 Highlights: Winner, Monviso (Italian Satellite); winner, Caserta (Italian Satellite); quarterfinals, Citizen Cup. PERSONAL: Her two wins on the Italian circuit this year give her five in three seasons. She has done well in doubles on the Austraian Satellite circuit, mostly with Jo-Anne Faull. ANN MINTER, 26, Melbourne, Australia Ranked 41. '89 Highlights: Winner, Taipei; semifinals, Tokyo; quarterfinals, Bnsbane.

PERSONAL: The Taipei victory, her second there, was her fourth title since turning pro in '82. She had strong years in '87 and 88. Her best Grand Slam finish was the quarterfinals at last year's Australian Open. BETSY NAGELSEN, 32, Kapalua Bay, Hawaii Ranked 55. '89 Highlights: Quarterfinals, Virginia Slims of Oklahoma; quarterfinals, Taipei, quarterfinals, Birmingham and Eastbourne.

PERSONAL: One of the most consistent singles players and one of the best doubles competitors on the Virginia Slims Series. Nagelsen has over 20 doubles titles in her career. She once ranked as high as No. 17. CLAUDIA PORWIK, 20, Furth, West Germany Ranked 92.

'89 Highlights: Quarterfinals, Virginia Slims of Oklahoma; third round. Brisbane. PERSONAL: Porwik drew notice at the '86 Virginia Slims of Arizona, where she came through the qualifying to reach the semifinals. Her best Grand Slam finish was the quarterfinals at last year's Australian Open. JANA POSPtSILOVA, 19, Projtejov, Czechoslovakia Ranked 53.

'89 Highlights: Third round, Hilton Head; third round, Amelia Island. PERSONAL: Turned pro in '88. Has career wins over Helena Sukova and Ros Fairbank. She has two titles on the Yugoslavian Satellite Series and reached the final of a third. NICOLE PROVrS, 19, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia Ranked 74.

'89 Highlights: Fourth round, Australian Open; third round, French Open; third round, Wimbledon. PERSONAL: Provis came to international attention in '88 when she reached the semifinals of the French Open in singles and doubles. Her performance at the French, including a win over Arantxa Sanchez, vaulted her into me Top 30 in '88. RAFFAELLA REGGI, 23, Raenza, Italy Ranked 22. '89 Highlights: Runner-up, Eastbourne: semifinals, Virginia Slims of Oklahoma; quarterfinals, Upton, Barcelona and Italian Open.

CAMILLE BENJAMIN, 23, Bakersfield, Calif. Ranked 102. 1989 Highlights: Quarterfinals, U.S. Hardcourts; Third round, Australian Open. Personal: French Open semifinalist in '84.

She has been in three finals in her career. Won at Schnectady, N.Y., in '87. A straight-A student at Highland High School. Parents come from Panama. Father Carl was a tennis professional.

Camilla collects foreign coins and likes roller skating. BEVERLY BOWES, 28, Lubbock, Texas Ranked 96. '89 Highlights: Quarterfinals, Auckland; third round, Schenectady. Personal: Best career finish was in the '88 Virginia Slims of Nashville. A three-time All-American at the University of Texas.

Father Mickey taught her to play tennis at age seven. Brother Hamson, 31, also played for Texas. ELISE BURGIN, 27, Baltimore, Mc'. Ranked 78. '89 Highlights: Quarterfinals, European Open; third round, Australian Open.

PERSONAL: Burgm was on the NCAA Championship doubles team, representing Stanford, when the University of New Mexico hosted the event in '83. A four-time All-America at Stanford, where she earned a Jcumalism-Comrnunications degree. Burgin has one title and has reached three other finals since turning pro in '84. Still excells in doubles, with eight titles. JENNY BYRNE, 22, Perth, Australia Ranked 48.

'89 Highlights: Finalist, Virginia Slims of Indian Wells; semifinals, Bnsbane. PERSONAL: Byrne is having her best year, improving her ranking 71 spots since the year's start. She has career wins over Pam Shnver, Hana Mandlikova, Zina Garrison and Wendy Turnbull. Her nickname is Jackson. Frequently plays doubles with fellow Aussie Janine Thompson.

She has a golden retnever named Bons. AMANDA COETZER, 18, Hoopstad, South Africa Ranked 87. '89 Highlights: Won Bloemfontein (South Africa Satellite); fourth round, French Open. PERSONAL: Since turning pro last year, CoeUer has won five satellite tournaments and reached the finals of another event. Last year she reached the third round of the Juniors U.S.

Open and Wimbledon. First ranking was 147. She has climbed 60 spots. JO-ANNE FAUL, 28, Fairview Park, Australia Ranked 66. '89 Highlights: Runner-up, Adelaide; semifinals.

Strasbourg; fourth round, French Open and Wimbledon. PERSONAL: A pro since April '88, Faul is having a strong year. She won the 88 Austraian Open Juniors' singles and doubles titles. AMY FRAZIER, 16, Rochester Hills, Mich. Ranked 39.

'89 Highlights: Winner, Virginia Slims of Kansas; quarterfinals, Virginia Slims of Oklahoma; third round, Australian Open. PERSONAL: Frazier is still an amateur. She won her first tournament this year, beating Barbara Potter in Kansas. Her first notice came when she she beat Pam Shriver in the second round of the '88 Virginia Slims of Los Angeles. ANN GROSSMAN, 18, Grove City, Ohio Ranked 47.

'89 Highlights: Quarterfinals, Strasburg; fourth round, French Open and Upton. PERSONAL: Winner of numerous U.S. Junior titles, Grossman turned pro in '88. Her best professional finish was second in the '88 Virgnia Slims of San Diego. She came through the qualifying to reach the championship match.

ANN HENRICKSSON, 29, Mill Valley, Calif. Ranked 61. '89 Highlights: Runner-up, U.S. Hardcourts; quarterfinals Birmingham and Schenectady. PERSONAL: She has been second three times in singles, has a history of eliminating seeded players and is one of the most aggressive doubles players on the Virginia Sliifls Series, with three titles in '88.

KATHY JORDAN, 29, King of Prussia, Pa. Unranked, due to injury layoff. '89 Highlights: Played doubles with Elizabeth Smylie at the Virginia Slims of San Diego. This is her first singles tournament. PERSONAL: Jordan returns to the Virginia Slims Series following a two-year layoff.

Since turning pro in 1979, she has 34 doubles titles, with nine Grand Slam titles. She was once ranked No. worldwide. Nichols Hopes To Relive Past James Yodice JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT Nichols and about 60 other professionals are in Albuquerque as the 1989 First National Bank Ladies Professional Bowling Tour's Albuquerque Open begins Monday morning at Leisure Bowl. Prize money is $30,000, with a first-place check worth $5,000.

Nichols should be a pre-tournament favorite. She has appeared in the televised finals in each of the last four tournaments on the tour Denver, Yuma, South Bend, and last week in Dearborn Heights, Mich. She finished fourth last week in Michigan. The personable, 37-year-old Hall of Famer from Algonquin, 111., said her performance level hinges on adaptability. "I think I'm very fortunate over the years that I've been able to change," Nichols said.

"The lane surfaces have changed, the equipment has changed. I've been able to adjust to the changes. And I have a pretty basic game. Physically, your game is very basic. It's 70 percent mental." Nichols made her name known when she won the 1972 U.S.

Open in Denver as an amateur. The only other person to win the national championship as an amateur was Wendy MacPherson, who did it in 1986. MacPherson, now a pro, also is here this week. Nichols was inducted into the Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in May of this year and also is in the running for Bowler of the Decade for the 1980s. Though she hasn't won yet in 1989, she has a half-dozen finishes in the top six.

As for winning the U.S. Open at such a young age, Nichols said it caught her off guard. "I don't think I was ready," she said. Albuquerque, unlike Lorrie Nichols, has changed a lot since the two first crossed paths in 1973. The only roads to Rio Rancho then were the Albuquerque Dukes had players named Ron Cey and Davey Lopes and a there a bowling alley called Lomas Bowl.

It was at that now-defunct establishment Lorrie Nichols won her first professional bowling title, the Albuquerque Open. Saturday night, she returned to the Southwest. "I only got in at 5 o'clock, and I drove right from the airport to here," said Nichols at a reception Saturday night "I haven't been back here since then (73).".