Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 37

C-17 WORLD CUPTENNIS PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE SUNDAY, JULY 10, 1994 16-year-old Ohio girl wins USTA clay title; top men's seeds clash By Phil Axelrod Post-Gazette Sports Writer Lilia Osterloh, a soft-spoken 16-year-old with a game nardened beyond her years, didn't exactly sneak into town this week as an unknown. But nobody knew exactly how good she was. It's one thing to dominate an age group. It's another to trade strokes against the top amateurs in the country. "I didn't know what to expect here," she said "It was a new atmosphere." Osterloh, seeded fourth, looked quite comfortable yesterday in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over top-seeded Nancy Dingwall in the women's finals of the USTA National Amateur Clay Court Championships at the ML Lebanon Tennis Center.

"The scores dont show it it still was a tough match," said Osterloh, who will enter the 11th grade this fall at Groveport-Madison High School in Columbus, Ohio. "I was just playing my game." Her game was nearly flawless against Dingwall, who sprayed a number of forehands. "She didn't give me many openings," Dingwallsaid. "She returned everything." Osterloh swept through the field without losing a set. She first picked up a racket at the age of 6 and started playing in tournaments two years later.

Osterloh, who had been ranked No. 1 nationally at 14-under and No. 4 at 16-under in singles and No. 1 in doubles, moved up to the 18-under category this summer. "I playing well," she said.

"I think my game is developing. I hope to go to college, then try the tour and see how that is. There's no hurry for me. I'm going to take my time." It took her less than an hour to defeat Dingwall. "It seemed longer than that," said Osterloh, who later teamed with Kelly Brown to win the doubles championship with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Julie Beahm and Dingwall.

Men's final today It was a good day for defending champions and a bad day for local hopefuls in the men's singles. Clemson's Cris Robinson, last year's champion, advanced to today's 1 p.m. finals with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 victory over West Virginia University's Eric Elek, a graduate of Lang-ley High School. No. 1 seed Robinson will meet No.

2 Jeffrey Baker, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Matt Guyaux, who grew up in New Kensington and now lives in Allison Park after spending the past three years in Scranton and West Palm Beach, Fla. Baker, a senior at the University of South Florida, won the championship two years ago and lost to Robinson in last year's quarterfinals. Baker underwent elbow surgery this winter and is serving with gusto again. Baker is the aggressor, Robinson the counter-puncher. Robinson, who specializes in long, tedious matches, needed nearly three hours to dispose of Elek, a good friend and his doubles partner.

For Robinson, a tennis match is like a shootout: The last man standing wins. "I like it if it comes down to that," he said. "I think patience is one of my strengths." He broke Elek's serve three times in the final set. "It's not easy playing a friend," Robinson said. "I rather not have to do it." In other results: Elek and Robinson reached today's doubles finals with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ian Moran and Andrew Fagenholz in the semifinals.

They will meet the Baker brothers, Jeffrey and Michael, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 winners over Marc Silva and Matt Potts. The doubles final will follow the singles championship today. Michael Baker and Courtney Allen won the mixed doubles championship with a 6-2, 64 victory over Jeffrey Baker and Upper St Clair's Jacqueline Bunting. II 4 fMM.r-! nrnm 7 "WMfamija 1 rd Daniel MuzioAssociated Press into the net. Bergkamp was allowed to waltz through the left side of Brazil's defense and score.

The nervous play continued two minutes later when Marcio Santos gave the ball away deep in his own half. The tying goal came on a resulting corner, with Aran Winter allowed to make a run on his own and head the ball past the slow-reacting keeper Taffarel. Brilliant plays on offense, uneasiness on defense. It was classic Brazilian soccer and, with 10 minutes left, a third familiar theme was added the outstanding free kick. Left back Branco, playing his first game in 40 days, was fouled about 30 yards from the Dutch goal.

His direct free kick whizzed low and hard past de Goey. "This team has emotional equilibrium," Parreira said. HUH ...5. PIP Brazilian defender Branco, right, boots the game-winning free kick past a Netherlands wall, off the right post and Brazil nets wild win over Netherlands Netherlands: "This was a game that contained all the elements soccer should contain." The first half, however, was anything but a classic. "In the first half both attacks had a difficult time," Advocaat said.

The tone of the second half was set early, when Bebeto played a stunning pass to Romano. Romano took too much time setting up his shot and Dutch defender Stan Valckx, who did a good job guarding the brilliant Brazilian in the first half, managed to recover. In the 5lst minute, Brazil went ahead. Defender Aldair spotted Bebeto scampering down the left wing and played a superb long pass to him. Bebeto ran forward and sent a cross to Romano, who had streaked down the middle ahead of Valckx, and the Brazilian scored.

The second goal, about 10 minutes after the first, was controversial. Branco rose to head a Brazilian goal kick, flicking it ahead to Bebeto. The Dutch defense froze, thinking Bebeto was offside. But the linesman's flag stayed down and Bebeto ran in, rounded goalkeeper Ed de Goey and gave Brazil a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 lead. "I think everybody saw the second goal in the same way," was all Advocaat would say.

"I haven't said anything critical about the referees so far in the World Cup and I'm not going to start now." The other day, Parreira was saying how pleased he has been with Brazil's defense. It was a defensive weakness, though, that allowed the Dutch back in the game. A few minutes after the controversial Bebeto goal, Dennis By Neil Campbell Toronto Globe and Mall DALLAS Those who had waited keenly for five days, anticipating a classic matchup between Brazil and the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinal, were forced to wait a little longer yesterday at the Cotton Bowl. 1 The first half was more a joust of cautious teams than an epic involving two of soccer's most exciting units. But the game burst to life in the second half, ending in 3-2 victory for Brazil.

"This was the best game of the Cup," said Brazil Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after his team had survived despite squandering a 2-0 lead. "It was certainly the most dramatic." Said Dick Advocaat, coach of the il Clay Courts' future looks more cloudy than sunny; as attendance dwindles Italy's two Baggios pair up for 2-1 triumph over Spain HW.W By Frankl Dell'Apa Boston Globe FOXBORO, Mass. Roberto Baggio retained his scoring touch and his sense of drama yesterday. And Italy took another improbable step ahead with a 2-1 victory over Spain in a World Cup quarterfinal match. Baggio scored the winning goal in the 88th minute, and Italy will meet Bulgaria or Germany in the semifinals on Thursday.

Just four days previously, Baggio had scored the tying goal in the 89th minute, then the winner in overtime as Italy eliminated Nigeria, 2-1. This time, Baggio scored on a counterattack while the Italians were being outplayed by a Spanish team that was a victory away from its best World Cup finish since 1950. Baggio took a pass in full stride from Giuseppe Signori, then rounded charging goalkeeper An-doni Zubizarreta to roll in the goal. "I am not surprised when he does positive things," Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca said of Baggio. "Only when he does negative things." Though the Italians appeared relieved when they took the lead on Dino Baggio's 25th-minute goal, there also was a feeling of foreboding.

Things appeared too easy, as the less-publicized Baggio no relation to Roberto took a quick pass from Donadoni in the center of the field, dribbled for 20 yards and bent a shot into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. And the Italians appeared deflated in the second half, as Spain increased its attack and tied the score, 1-1, on Jose Luis Caminero's left-footed drive in the 13th minute. Caminero, who had been a dominating presence in the midfield, took a pass from Sergi after Jorge Otero had dummied at the edge of the penalty area. Caminero's drive deflected off Benarrivo's left foot and popped over Pagliuca. "When that happened Pagliuca said, "I was thinking of the return trip to Italy." Instead, the Italians advance to the semifinals.

"At this stage, these are wars rather than games," Italy Coach Arrigo Sacchi said. "We hope that in New York we will also be all right." 'i Iffy i Mike BlakeReuters Italy's Roberto Baggio celebrates after netting the game-winner yesterday. It was his second dramatic late goal as many games. Surprising Sweden faces Romania; Germans tackle Bulgaria, Stoichkov Earlier this week Mike Po-trocky peered out at the grassy hillside and the bleachers at the Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center and wondered, "Where are all the people?" A handful were there on this sweltering afternoon to watch the National Amateur Clay Court Championships, the best the sport has to offer in the area this summer.

And the price was right only $2 for a full day of tennis on weekdays and $5 on the weekend. "It's a shame," said Potrockv, who is completing his 17th and final year as tournament director. "It's the best sports bargain in the city." But few seem to notice. Crowds are down, corporate financial support is down, media coverage is down and Petrocky's spirits are down. "I'm disappointed," Potrocky said, "because these kids put on a great show." And they still possess a bright-eyed enthusiasm and innocence that long has been gone on the professional tour.

The spoiled brats there are raking in the dough without giving anything back to the game. The players here range in age from Upper St Clair's thirtyso-mething Kim Watt to 13-year-old Russian Ilona Vishnevskaga. They are goodwill ambassadors for a sport badly in need of it Their court behavior isn't boorish and rarefy are voices raised, calls questioned or rackets thrown, although they play without umpires until the quarterfinals. These kids are happy to be here. Most pay their own way and stay with families in the neighborhood.

"Some travel expenses are paid," Potrocky said, "based on a system of merit that takes into account ranking and need." The tournament is a first-rate affair, on and off the court Potrocky and the committee members are volunteers, with only the umpires and maintenance people getting paid. "The last year we made a profit was 1988," Potrocky said. "I've always been disappointed, to some extent because it seems no matter what we do we can't get the tennis fans from the North Hills to cross the river." The timing for the tournament this year was bad because it fell smack in the middle of a hectic sports summer, with the Worm Cup, the U.S. Open and the upcoming All-Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium hogging the local headlines and air time. "I understand that" Potrocky said, "but it doesn't make it any less frustrating." PHIL AXELROD TENNIS Temperatures in the high 90s this week also have kept away some fans.

"A lot of people don't like to sit 1 when it's that hot" Potrocky said. "We've tried to generate more in- terest by having more matches at night but all the singles are played in the day because that's the way theplayerswantit" They want to be at full-strength for the singles and are willing to have a little of their energy sapped for the doubles later in the evening. A weekend of championships -men's single and doubles, women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles always accounts for the bulk of the crowds at the tournament. "I'd settle for 7,000. I'd like to see 10,000," Potrocky said.

"Last year, we had only 3,600 or 4,000." The crowds have dwindled steadily since the tournament's heyday in the early and mid-80's, when Mt Lebanon's Gretchen Rush was the queen of the courts and the stands were packed when-1 ever she played She won singles titles in 198183 and '85 before turning pro. "She was a great player with an established reputation, Potrocky said wistfully. "She brought the people in." The men's field this year ea- hired two rising young players from the area Eric Elek, a graduate of Langley High School, and Matt Guyaux, a native of New Kensington who now calls Allison Park home after living in Scranton, and West Palm Beach, the past three years. "I'd like to see some more sup-1 port for the local kids," Potrocky said. The tournament which became a national event 25 years ago, is steeped in tradition dating to the late 1890s.

Bill Tilden's name is ori the men's singles championship trophy. Eddie Dibbs, Vitas Gerula-tis, Peter Fleming and Bryan She ton also have won it. The tournament's history is 1 glorious. It's future is cloud(dL WORLD CUP RESULTS, SCHEDULE TV coverage In prn thews QUARTERFINALS SATURDAY, j0irY9 Italy2 Brazil3 SUNDAY, JULY 10 Bulgaria vs. Germany at East Rutherford, N.J.T12.05 p.m.

(ESPN) Sweden vs. Romania at Stanford.3:35p.m.(ABC) semifinals! i 1 WEDNESDAY, JULp3 Italy vs. Bulgaria-Geimany winner at East Rutherford, N.J.,4:05p.m.(ESPN) Brazil vs. Sweden-Ro'ma" nla winner at Rose Pas- adena, 7:35 (ESPN) THIRD PLACE -i -I SATURDAY, JULY 16 Semifinal losers at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, 3 35 p.m. (ESPN) CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY, JULY17 Semifinal winners at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, p.m.

(ABC) Vogts was an outstanding defender in his day. He played on the German team that won the 1974 World Cup and made 96 appearances with the national team. He has yet to say which player he will assign to Stoitchkov, who has four goals, but he does know his team has some injury problems. Midfielder Matthias Sammer is 3uestionable with a leg injury, and efender Lothar Matthaus will play but will be slowed by a foot injury. Bulgaria will be without defender Emil Kremenliev for the quarterfinals, but it will have three other players back who had been suspended.

Still, Bulgaria will try to slow the pace against Germany. Chasing Salenko He hasn't played since the first round, but Oleg Salenko of Russia still leads the World Cup scoring race with with sue goals. Salenko surged from unknown to history-maker by scoring a World Cup record five goals in Russia's 6-1 rout of Cameroon on June 28. Then he and his team went home. Germany's Juergen Klinsmann, with five goals, has the best chance to beat Salenko.

Sweden's Martin Dahlin and Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov have four each. Ali three can add to their total todajj. From wire dispatches PALO ALTO, Calif. Their goalie, Thomas Ravelli, is a poet who is about to equal the record for most appearances with the national team. Their top scorer, Martin Dah-lin, is the first black to play soccer for Sweden.

One, midfielders, Klas Ingesson, almost missed the World Cup after sustaining a neck injury when his car ran into a moose in early May. A defender, Roger Ljung, almost missed it after fracturing his skull in a May 26 exhibition match against Denmark. Few of those sidelights have been widely exposed outside of Scandinavia, as Sweden has slipped virtually Snnoticed into today's World Cup uarterfinal with Romania. It's another story in Stockholm. "At home, they're having parties ahd celebrating, but I've got to make sure the players are not satisfied wth the quarterfinals," said Sweden Coach Tommy Svensson.

Sweden found satisfaction ehough in having avoided another debacle like that of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. There, a Swedish team that led its qualifying group was humiliated by three 2-1 losses in the first round. "Sweden is the only country WORLD CUP ROUNDUP where it is considered a bad characteristic to be sure of yourself," Dahlin has said. "Why should we always be ashamed of what we do?" Dahlin, a child of a Swedish mother and a Venezuelan father, has starred for Sweden, with four goals in three matches. Sweden's other forward, Kennet Andersson, has been nearly as hot, with three goals.

Romanian midfielder Gheorghe Hagi has so far been the best player in the World Cup, with three goals and three assists. Forwards Florin Raducioiu and Ilie Dumitrescu have been among the most lethal shooters, with two goals each. "This is the biggest event our people have to celebrate since the revolution," said Romania Coach Anghel Iordanescu. Covering Stoichkov Germany Coach Berti Vogts knows the perfect person to mark Bulgarian star Hristo Stoichkov in today's quarterfinal. Berti Vogts.

"I would nave been the ideal man to do it," he said..