European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Graf fights off Sabatini for 3rd Wimbledon title from wire reports Quot Wimbledon England a Steffi Graf pounded winning forehand from All Over the court to defeat Gabriela Sabatini 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 for her third Wimbledon women a title saturday on a sultry Centre court. Graf was Down 5-4 and 6-5 in the final set with Sabatini serving both times for the match. But Graf survived with a pair of service Breaks and then broke Sabati Nils serve for the match in the 14th game of the dramatic final set. Sabatini lost her last three service games. In the final game she fell behind 15-40 and then was left nearly standing still As Graf slammed a forehand service return Winner Graf jumped and raised her arms in Triumph after the final Point. A it Means so much to win it coming Back twice from being Down a said a Radiant Graf. Quot it Means i have the courage to win. It gave me so much pleasure to see myself getting through it winning a close match again. I needed it for  after a tournament tormented by rain v the match was played in hot sunny weather. An on court thermometer showed the temperature As 99 degrees. The 33-game match tied the record for the longest women s Wimbledon final a in terms of games a since the the break or system was introduced in 1971. Chris Evert Defeated evonne Cawley in a 33-game final in 1976. A i think i did what i had to do. 1 had a big Chance at the end of the match a Sabatini said. �?o1 had a Little bit of bad Luck at the end that a  grass Victory ensured that germans the stars and stripes july 7,1991 Page 28 will win both singles titles for the second time in three years. Boris Becker plays Michael Ristich in an All German menus title on sunday. Graf and be Clofer scored a German sweep in 1989. It was grafts 10th grand slam title but Only her first since the 1990 australian open in the past 18 months she has battled a series of physical and personal problems while slipping from the top of women a Tennis. The German stumbled to her worst loss As a professional when she was Defeated 6-0, 6-2 by Arantha Sanchez vicar to in the semifinals of the French open this Spring. But she was overpowering throughout Wimbledon losing Only 23 games in her six matches in route to the final. A i know in be lost some Tough matches. I knew that one Day it would turn around a Graf said. A people have been Germany a Steffi Graf scrambles to a 6-4,3-6,8-6 championship Victory on saturday. Writing me off a Little  but it was Graf who wrote the last word saturday with the decisive set poised at 4-4, Sabatini secured a crucial break to leave her serving for the match. But the reigning . Open Champion from Buenos Aires appearing in her first Wimbledon singles final missed her Chance As Graf fought Back to 5-5. Sabatini then broke again and at 30-30 was Only two Points away from the title. In the Best rally of the match Sabatini seemed to have won the Point with a searing Volley Only to be denied by a lunging backhand from the Champion who went on to take the game. A i think that was the most important Point of the match especially at that stage a Graf said. A i mean 30 All maybe match Ball that was a Tough  the German then went on to hold her service to Lead 7-6 and pounced when she had two match Points on sabatinis serve. Completing Victory in Vintage fashion with a stinging forehand Cross court return. The Victory was Worth $345,600 to Graf Sabatini earned $172,800.men s finalists rewarded for hard service by Robert Millward Wimbledon England a its the first All German menus final at Wimbledon but it has All the elements of a wild West shootout. It will be a Battle of Cannonball serves when Boris Becker and Michael Stich meet sunday on Centre court. Becker s natural serve and Volley game already has brought him three Wimbledon titles and six final appearances in seven years. The 6-foot-4 Stich is playing in his first grand slam final. But he has fired 82 aces a second Only to Becker with 89 a and knocked out defending Champion and world no. 1 Stefan Edberg in the semifinals. But now Stich no. 7 in the world rankings takes on a player who virtually is on his Home ground. Becker was unseeded when he became the youngest Wimbledon menus champs on in 1985 at the age of 17. He returned the next year to win it again and since has powered his Way to four finals in a Row. The last three have been against Edberg with Becker winning Only one. When he is not firing thunderous serves and crunching volleys Becker is renowned for his on court acrobatics frequently diving across court to reach shots at the net. A he often scowls and shouts at himself for missing shots and even has Long conversations with his Racket. Few of the rallies Are Likely to last More than four shots and both players will be itching to get to the net As quickly As possible. It wont be a match for the Tennis Purist. After three straight Becker Edberg finals sundays match has some new twists. Edberg a loss to Stich and Beckers semifinal Victory Over unseeded american David Wheaton put Becker Back on top of the world rankings for the first time since february. Becker will be out to produce a performance worthy of the ranking while Stich has the Chance to beat the no. 1 player in consecutive matches. Although they will be foes on court and Only have played each other once the two germans Are Davis cup colleagues and know each other Well. Have played a lot together warm eur up and in practice and he a a person 1 know really Well a Becker said. A a it a much easier to play some somebody you hate  in their Only previous meeting indoors in Paris last year Becker won 6-1, 6-2. Inside sports 1 Elliott takes Check ered 1 Flag at Daytona a Page 21 Norman swinging Back to top a Page 22 major league averages a Page 23 Clark drives in 7 for botox a Page 26 Marie wins prologue Lemond 3rd Lyon France apr Greg Lemond started his bid for his fourth tour de France title with an encouraging third in the races opening prologue saturday. Thierry Marie of France won the Short race in 6 minutes 11.23 seconds. It was a virtually Flat trip Over 3.3 Miles through a Park around a Lake. Marie will Wear the yellow Jersey of the Leader As the race starts its first full stage sunday with an individual 75-mile leg78th tour de trance around Lyon. In the afternoon there will be a 26.8-mile team time trial from Bron to Chassier. The 2,462-mile, 23-Day race ends on july 28 in Paris. Erik Breukink of the Netherlands was second in saturdays prologue in 6 13.32, while Lemond finished in 6 14.71. Frances Francis Moreau was fourth in 6 18.34. A a it a a Good result for me a said Lemond seeking his third straight tour de France Victory. A this sort of race is better for Marie of  Marie a sprint specialist soft his sixth prologue of the season. A the work is not finished. There Are still three weeks to go a Lemond said. A a in a a Man of july. I am ready to make