Steffi Graf, her game improving but still not up to her exacting standards, Sunday defeated Monica Seles 7-5, 6-4 to win the $250,000 Midland Bank Championships.

'It was better today, definitely,' said Graf, the world's N. 1 female player.

'I just made so many mistakes, it's not usual for me.'

Seles, 15, of Yugolsavia had her best chance in the first set. She winged the ball past her opponent to even the score at 4-4 and went up 5-4, finishing off the West German with an ace. But Graf recovered, serving two of her five aces in the last game.

She took the first two games of the second set. Seles rallied in the third, only to fail to win another until the seventh, making the score 5-2. Seles won the next two games but Graf won the match on the Yugoslavian's long service return.

Graf, who earned $50,000, has won 12 of 14 tournaments this year, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Seles won $22,500.

Graf beat Seles in the French Open and Wimbledon semifinals. The West German lauded her opponnent for her powerful strokes.

'She's new and she's doing really well,' Graf said.

Seles is the world's female No. 7 player.

'Next year I'm just really going to try to play, not worry about my ranking too much,' she said. 'I'm satisfied, I can't say I'm not.'

To reach the finals, Graf beat Laura Garrone, Claudia Kohde-Klisch, Elna Reinach and Jana Novotna.

Earlier this week, players criticized tournament director George Hendon for giving Graf private practice time. Graf denied receiving preferential treatment.

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