Tarango keeps low profile on his return

Tennis

Two weeks after storming off court at Wimbledon, Jeff Tarango made a quiet return to competition yesterday, in a doubles match before a few dozen spectators.

There were no tirades over allegedly corrupt umpires and unruly fans or face-slapping from his wife as he teamed up with the Frenchman, Olivier Delaitre, to beat Todd Martin and Scott Davis, 7-6, 7-5 in the Legg Mason Classic in Washington. Neither he nor his partner spoke to the media after the match. Later Tarango was beaten 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 by the Zimbabwean Byron Black in the first round of the singles.

Before the start of his first-round doubles match, Tarango declined to discuss his conduct at Wimbledon until an investigation is complete. "My objective is to play my best uninhibited tennis throughout the summer," he said.

The ATP Tour's spokesman, Joe Lynch, said Tarango's behaviour at Wimbledon was being investigated, as well as his allegation that some players received preferential treatment from umpire Bruno Rebeuh. Tarango was fined pounds 10,300, and could face further sanctions. Lynch said previous investigations have lasted several weeks.

n The Wimbledon champion, Steffi Graf, said she was looking forward to Monica Seles returning to the women's circuit next month. Speaking at the launch of her first fashion collection, a mixture of casualwear, dresses and jeans, Graf said: "I hope she is going to have fun with what she is doing, and I look forward to her coming back."