DELRAY BEACH. Florida. Mar 2: Defending champion and topseeded Steffi Graf came close to

losing her first set of the year, but pulled off a 6-0, 7-5 second-round victory on Tuesday over American Marrine Werdel at the 400.000 dollar Virginia Slims of Florida, reports Reuter.

The top-ranked Graf, who has won this event four times, is now 18-0 this year. She has won 22 straight matches — the last time the German Jost a. match was to Spaniard Conchita Martinez in the final of the Virginia Slims of Philadelphia last November.

The 48th-ranked Werdel. who took a 4-1 lead in the second set. is the first player of the year to push Graf into playing more than 10 games In a set.

"In the three tournaments I've played (this year). I've been very good, very solid." Graf said. "Today when I was

down 4-1 in the second set, I thought I might lose a set here."

Third-seeded Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina, a three-time champion at the slims of Florida, won a 6-4. 6-2 second round decision over Italy's Elena Savoldi.

The top eight seeds received first-round byes.

In the first set of the 59 minute match. Graf only lost a total of 10 points — five on her own serve, five on Werdel's.

But In the second set. Werdel Jumped ahead to a 4-1 lead in the fourth game, Graf surrendered a 40-0 lead as Werdel played impressive tennis to break serve.

"She hits everything and takes a lot of risks.’ Graf said of Werdel.

Graf evened the score to 4-4. At 30-30 in the 11th game. Werdel executed two forehand errors, to lose her serve and give Graf the winning edge.

in contrast to Graf, the fifth-ranked Sabatini has been •in a serious drought.

Sabatini hasn't won a title sign the. Italian Open in May 1992. Not including this event, she's played 29 tournaments without reaching the winner's circle.

But she's had success here at the slims of Florida. Sabatini even has a 8-2 winning edge over Graf in the state of Florida.

“If there's one place. I feel confident and have a lot of motivation It would be here. Florida," said Sabatini, who trails Graf 26-11 in their overall career head-to-head.

Sabatini allowed the 187th-ranked Savoldi. a qualifier here to break her serve once in the one hour. 22 minute match. The Argentine started with a 3-1 lead in the first set. but was broken in the sixth game to even the score at 3-3.

Sabatini recouped her lead immediately, breaking Savoldi at 0-40 In the seventh game. '

Sabatini took a 3-1 lead in. the second set and captured a second service break in the seventh game.