BONN. Aug 7: Steffi Graf pledged in a weekend television Interview to take control of her own financial affairs following the arrest of her father in a tax probe which also targets her. reports Reuter.

"I made the mistake of not taking care of financial matters and will take the consequences for that.” she told German television. “In the next few days I shall make some Important decisions and take over full responsibility for these matters."

Her father Peter Graf, who played a leading role in looking after the financial affairs of the world number one. was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of tax evasion.

German news magazine Der Spiegel said in a report released ahead of publication today that his arrest warrant cited a figure of 2.2 million marks (1.57 billion dollars) of unpaid tax.

But the magazine said investigators believe this figure could rise to more than 10 million marks (7.15 million dollars) by the time they finish their inquiry.

The magazine also said investigators had discovered that well over 20 million marks (14.3 million dollars) had passed through a secret bank account in Liechtenstein. “The money has so far not appeared In any of the Grafs' tax declarations." Spiegel said.

The six-time Wimbledon champion told German television in New York she had been shocked to learn of her father's arrest.

She is due to play in the Canadian Open starting in Toronto on August 14 ahead of the US open which begins In New York on August 28. She said she had no plans to retire from tennis, nor to move away from Germany.

It Is not the first time her father has been associated with scandal. In 1990 he paid 800,000 marks (570,000 dollars) in "hush money" to a topless model, with whom he allegedly had an affair.

Spiegel said on Sunday the tax investigators were now also interested in where that money came from.