Navratilova Defeats Kohde-Kilsch
A sub-par Martina Navratilova had a two hour and two-minute struggle Monday night before edging Claudia Kohde-Kilsch for the New England Virginia Slims title.
Navratilova, who has won six straight tournaments, lost a string of nine successive straight-set victories and trailed by two games in the third set before winning, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
“I started getting a sore throat yesterday,” Navratilova said. “I was tired and had an upset stomach tonight.
“But give her credit,” she said of her 22-year-old West German opponent. “She played well. She has played worse than that and beaten me.”
Navratilova holds a commanding 15-2 career edge in games with Kohde-Kilsch.
Said the fourth-seeded Kohde-Kilsch: “It was just a matter of a few points. I played well except in the second set. In the first and third, I played very well.
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