Navratilova Evens Score With Sukova

Top-seeded Martina Navratilova, moving one step closer to her 100th career singles title and avenging one of only two defeats in 1984, beat Czechoslovakia’s Helena Sukova, 6-0, 6-4, Saturday night in the $150,000 Virginia Slims of Washington tennis tournament.

Saturday afternoon, Kathy Rinaldi stunned second-seeded and defending champion Hana Mandlikova of Czechoslovakia, 6-4, 6-2, and Zina Garrison surprised third-seeded Wendy Turnbull of Australia, 6-2, 7-6.

Bulgaria’s Manuela Maleeva, seeded fourth, ousted Kathy Jordan, 6-1, 6-4.

Sukova, 19, stunned the tennis world in December when she ended Navratilova’s record 74-match winning streak with a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory in the Australian Open.

“It was the biggest mistake she ever made,” said Navratilova of Sukova’s win. “I won’t just remember it for a a month but forever.”

Sukova said: “I had chances but I didn’t make it. And when you want to win, especially against Martina, you can’t miss.”