This is a very important week for Stephanie Rehe. She's playing in a tournament, something she has done hundreds of times and that has brought her international recognition and wealth. But this week, playing a tournament has never been so difficult for Rehe. After an automobile accident sideswiped her budding pro career in late 1988 when she was ranked 14th in the world, Rehe is playing her first tour event in nearly two years at this week's Great American Bank Classic in San Diego. "It's been a long haul," said Rehe's coach, Gene Malin. "She's very eager and a little anxious." Malin was with Rehe and three others on that November 1988 night at the Virginia Slims of Chicago when, en route from the tournament site to a hotel, their car was hit by another vehicle that had run a red light. Rehe, who was sitting in the backseat with Malin, was injured the worst. The 20-year-old from Highland, Calif., suffered two herniated discs in her back. Malin said Rehe didn't think the injury was serious, but when her back pains became so intense she couldn't walk she decided to have surgery. And after 1{ years of rehabilitation, the back still isn't 100 percent. "She gets occasional pain," said Malin, who has worked with Rehe for the last two years. Rehe, who has earned nearly $400,000 in career prize money, tried to return to the tour in mid-July at the Virginia Slims of Newport, but she "overstrained something and had to give it another week," Malin said. "She's so eager to play again." Rehe did play in three tiny events, winning the two doubles finals and one singles title. But the main tour is expected to be a bit more difficult. For one thing, Rehe, once ranked as high as 13th, doesn't even have a ranking anymore. There are special exemptions and wild cards that could get her into tournaments, but if she doesn't perform well early, she may have to play qualifying rounds to get into events. Getting into tournaments, though, is the least of Rehe's concerns at this point. Simply regaining her confidence is her greatest priority, Malin said. "It's been very frustrating for her," he said. "There's a lot of anxiety. All she has to play is one or two (tournaments) and she'll see that it's not that big a deal. "She's top 20 in my mind right now. And she has the potential to be top 5 in the world, if not fighting for No. 1. She has just got to get over the hump and stop worrying about her back. "I'm looking forward to (this tournament). I think she's going to surprise a lot of people." Cardinal advantage: As if the Stanford women's tennis team doesn't have enough going for it, the five-time NCAA team champions will now play the NCAA championship tournament at home. Stanford was recently named host site of the event for 1991 and 1992. The University of Florida hosted the tournament the last two years. No. 1 and still trying: At this month's U.S. Open, Steffi Graf will eclipse Martina Navratilova's record for holding the No. 1 ranking the longest period of time. Graf, who has been atop the world rankings since Aug. 16, 1987, will reach her 158th week at No. 1 on Aug. 27, opening day of the U.S. Open. Navratilova was No. 1 for 157 weeks from June 14, 1982, to June 9, 1985. But if Navratilova wins the U.S. Open, she could take over the top spot from Graf. More Graf-Navratilova: The cat and mouse game between Graf and Navratilova continues this week when both players compete in San Diego. The game's two top stars have had numerous chances to play each other since their last match at the 1989 U.S. Open, but they never seem to actually meet. San Diego is the first tournament both have entered together since Wimbledon. The real money: The prize money tennis players earn from winning tournaments is nothing compared with the money some make through endorsements. Consider that so far this year Boris Becker has made $669,450 in prize money, but has earned $6-million in endorsements, according to Tennis Buyer's Guide. Becker's West German neighbor Steffi Graf has pocketed $669,941 in prize money and $3.5-million in endorsements. In fact, you don't even have to actively play tennis to make money through the sport. Chris Evert, who retired last year, has made $3-million in endorsements this year, according to the guide. Just for laughs: Seems women's tennis has reached celebrity status. Last week's National Enquirer lead story carried the headline, "Explosive Gay Scandal Rocks Women's Tennis." The two-page spread, based on secondhand information and unidentified sources, hilariously tells of how "Lesbian Stars Stalk Young Players In Showers," among other things. The story probably isn't worth the paper it's printed on, but it's funny reading.