Tennis Star Sabatini Announces Retirement At The Ripe Old Age Of 26

Her voice choked with emotion, Gabriela Sabatini retired from tennis Thursday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, intent on spending more time with family and friends and leaving behind a productive but slightly unfulfilled career.

Sabatini, 26, was the sixth-biggest money winner in women’s tennis history, but she was ineffective this year.

Her highest world ranking was No. 3 in 1989, 1991 and 1992, and she won only one Grand Slam title - the U.S. Open in 1990. There, she beat Graf in a stirring final. Overall, Sabatini won 27 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, and earned $8.8 million.

Pete Sampras coasted to a victory over Felix Mantilla in the Eurocard Open in Stuttgart, Germany, and into a quarterfinal meeting with Andre Agassi. Agassi whipped fellow Davis Cup player Richey Reneberg in just 59 minutes. Michael Chang also reached the final eight by beating fellow American Jim Courier.