Zvereva advances

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 48

Zvereva advances

NZPA-Reuter England Natalia Zvereva, of the Soviet Union, moved a step closer yesterday to a final against Martina Navratilova at the Eastbourne women’s grasscourt tennis tournament but admitted she did not expect to beat the world number two aigain. / The 17-year-old Zvereva, who defeated the American in straight sets to reach the last eight on the clay of the French Open last month, said Navratilova would have the upper hand on grass. “It will be nice if I play against Martina in the final but I’m sure I cannot beat her on grass,” said Zvereva after beating American Barbara Potter, 6-3, 7-5, to reach the quar-ter-finals. Fifth-seeded Zvereva’s hopes of making the Eastbourne final were helped by the withdrawal of American Pam Shriver, the number two seed, because of a groin injury.

West German Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, the eighth seed, also retired ; with a knee injury/.:• < '/' @ the second seed, Michiel Schapers, of the Netherlands, followed the top-seeded Swede, A Jonas Svensson, out of the Bristol Grand Prix tennis tournament yesterday. The tall Dutchman, ranked thirty-ninth in the world, was beaten, 7-6, 64, in the third round by American Mark Dickson, 132 places below him on the computer.