The Hindu : Sport / World View : Graf, Edberg inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame

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Tuesday, Jul 13, 2004

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Sport - World View

Graf, Edberg inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame

NEWPORT: Steffi Graf was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sunday, presented by another of the game's greats: her husband, Andre Agassi.

His speech brought Graf to tears.

``Not that this occasion isn't emotional enough,'' she said. ``The best part of the tour is I ran into you. I'll be forever grateful for that.''

Graf, inducted along with Stefan Edberg and Dorothy `Dodo' Cheney, won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked No. 1 for a record 377 weeks.

The German was touched by a compliment from Hall of Famer Chris Evert.

``When someone asks me who was the greatest player I've ever seen in the last 25 years, I'd say Steffi Graf — with no hesitation,'' Evert said at a Hall dinner on Saturday.

Edberg won six Grand Slam titles and helped Sweden win four Davis Cups. He said his 1991 U.S. Open title was his most memorable match.

Graf had trouble picking her favourite title. After pausing, she said her initial Wimbledon crown may have been the best.

``The good thing is there are so many to pick from,'' she said. ``The tough thing is to pick one or a special one.''

Cheney, 87, has won more than 300 senior titles, including 20 senior Grand Slams. She was introduced by Hall of Famer John McEnroe. ``This is an unexpected pleasure to be able to induct someone I suggested five years ago when I was at the podium,'' he said.

``Tennis is a game for the ages,'' she said with a smile. Cheney is the daughter of 1956 Hall of Famer May Sutton Bundy, making them the first mother-daughter combination. — AP

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