Graf—Navratilova final in U.S. event

Press, 20 November 1989, Page 25

Graf —Navratilova final in U.S. event

NZPA-Reuter New York Second seed Martina Navratilova powered, her way into the final of the SNZI.7 million , worpen’s tennis championships with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over fourth seed Arantxa Sanchez of Spain yesterday. Navratilova (U.S.) had some trouble with her first serve early on but she volleyed brilliantly throughout the 56-minute semi final match with the 17-year-old French Open champion. The five-time champion last won this elite seasonending tournament in 1986.

West Germany’s Steffi Graf and Navratilova will hammer out' the best-of-five-set final today. Graf dropped a set in her semi final against world number three Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina, but she won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.

Graf and Navratilova have already played each other twice this year — in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals. ; Each- time the West German girl has won.

Navratilova, the Czechoslovak-born American world No. 2 has not lost to anyone but Graf since April. A sluggish Navratilova yesterday appeared to sleep through the first two games as Sanhez broke in the opening game and took a 2-0 lead. The second seed then revved up her attacking game and reeled off six consecutive games, breaking Sanchez in the fourth, sixth and eighth to take the first set.

Sanchez tried to counter the second seed’s net game with lobs and passing shots but the ones that Navratilova could not reach from the net often

sailed long or wide. Navratilova’s serve got stronger as the second set wore on and the former world No. 1 held for 4-1 with an ace and held at love for 5-2 with three service winners and an ace.

Navratilova, well aware that she had let a huge second set lead slip away in her quarter-final- with 15-year-old future star Monica Seles of Yugoslavia, suffered no such letdown yesterday.

She broke Sanchez at love for 6-2, sealing the victory with a emphatic overhead smash. Result of the doubles final of the United States women’s tennis championships (seedings prefix numbers): 1-Martina Navratilova/Pam Shriver (U.S.) bat 3-Natalia Zvereva I Larisa Savchenko (Soviet Union) 6-3, 6-2.