TENNIS ROUNDUP : Coetzer Upsets Sabatini in Quarterfinals

Gabriela Sabatini was hurting, and Amanda Coetzer did nothing to make her feel better.

Sabatini, bothered by cramps in her legs and right forearm, lost to the South African, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, in Friday’s quarterfinals at the Virginia Slims of Florida at Boca Raton.

Coetzer, ranked 61st, won the last six games against the tournament’s three-time champion. Late in the match Sabatini requested a trainer, who could only recommend she drink more water.

“It’s surprising and a little disappointing, because I’ve been training very hard,” said Sabatini, who was seeded second. “I wonder why this happened.”

Top-seeded Steffi Graf wasted a 6-0, 5-2, 40-15 lead against No. 7 Zina Garrison, but rallied from a break down in the third set to win, 6-0, 5-7, 7-5.

Third-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez and No. 4 Conchita Martinez advanced more routinely. Fernandez beat No. 5 Nathalie Tauziat, 6-4, 6-2, and Martinez eliminated No. 16 Barbara Rittner, 6-1, 6-0.

In today’s semifinals, Fernandez will try to improve on an 0-6 career record against Graf, and Coetzer will play Martinez.

“At my level, I can’t really plan to win,” said Coetzer, who reached one semifinal last year.

Sabatini won the championship in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

But cramps, usually a symptom of dehydration, began to bother her in the first set against Coetzer. On one point late in the match, Sabatini’s right hand locked and she tried to hit a backhand left-handed.

Sabatini had an excuse for her collapse; Graf made none for hers.

Graf, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Monica Seles, had two match points in the second set when Garrison came to life.

“She played so bad until that stage,” Graf said, “and suddenly, she played so well.”

What was Garrison’s strategy at 5-2, 40-15 in the second set?

“I was thinking I was going to go to the net and say, ‘Sorry I didn’t give you any competition,’ ” Garrison said.

Diego Nargiso of Italy beat Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) to reach the semifinals of the Copenhagen Open.

Also advancing to the final four were Swedes Anders Jarryd and Magnus Larsson, the only seeded players left in this ATP Tour event, and Christian Saceanu of Germany.