Navratilova Turns Back Shriver to Add $27,000 to Her Earnings

Martina Navratilova overwhelmed Pam Shriver, her doubles partner, 6-1, 6-4, Monday to win the championship of a $150,000 Virginia Slims tournament at Washington for the eighth time.

Navratilova, the world’s No. 1 player, collected a check for $27,000 to add to her record career earnings of more than $9.2 million.

Navratilova won the battle of the two serve-and-volleyers by charging the net on virtually every point, putting the second-seeded Shriver on the defensive in the 66-minute match.

“I was loose throughout the match,” Navratilova said. The champion chalked up four service breaks against Shriver, who had been broken only three times in her previous four matches.

Shriver won the opening point of the match when she hit a ball that touched the net and skipped over Navratilova’s racket.

“After that point, I looked over and saw that she seemed satisfied with herself,” Navratilova said. “I figured she meant business, so I told myself that I’ll get down to business, too.”

She proceeded to blast two aces, then broke Shriver’s service to grab a 2-0 lead.

“I’ve seen her start quickly, but this was ridiculous,” Shriver said. “She was serving well and cracking her backhand returns.

“She’s so powerful, but still I feel if I take advantage of my opportunities I can stay in the match.”

Shriver said before the match that in order to win she would have to hold her service early. She failed to do so and, as a result, was forced to settle for $13,600 after falling to Navratilova for the 13th straight time.

Navratilova is 23-3 against Shriver, with Shriver’s last victory coming in three sets in the quarterfinals of the 1982 U.S. Open.

Later, Navratilova and Shriver defeated Claudia Kohde-Kilsch and Helena Sukova, 6-3, 6-4, in the doubles final for their 42nd title.