Seles' comeback stalled

Tennis

Monica Seles' return to competitive tennis has been disrupted and it was announced on Friday that she would be pulling out of the forthcoming Los Angeles Championship at Manhattan Beach. Seles began her comeback after more than two years out of the game with an exhibition match against Martina Navratilova last weekend, and had planned to play in two competitions before the US Open at the end of the month. However, due to the recent hurricane near her home in Florida, Seles has been unable to meet her practice schedule and so has been forced to withdraw from the Los Angeles event.

Steffi Graf says she has no plans to move from Germany, despite the tax probe that has targeted her and led to the arrest of her father. "I had considered it, but when I thought about it, I realised I wanted to stay in Germany," she told German television. Asked how she reacted to the news of her father's arrest on Wednesday, she said: "I was totally shocked. My first reaction was to fly home. But then I spoke to my mother and my lawyer and they said I should stay in America. I have not been allowed to speak to my father."

Scotland's Miles Maclagan reached the final of the ATP challenger in Istanbul yesterday, beating Egypt's Tamer El Sawy 7-6 7-6. He will meet Frederic Vitoux, who overcame Tim Henman 6-2 6-2.