Tennis Roundup : Navratilova Has Her Troubles but Beats Potter in Three Sets

Top-seeded Martina Navratilova was taken to three sets before beating 14th-seeded Barbara Potter, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, Wednesday in the third round of a Virginia Slims tournament at Dallas.

Navratilova said she had trouble with the Moody Coliseum artificial turf installed over a basketball floor. She also expressed her frustration over a courtside telephone ringing. “When it rang last night they would stop play,” she said. “This time they did not. It was rather confusing.

“Overall I’m happy with my serve and volley game. I only lost one serve, and that was due to circumstances beyond my control. It was that phone incident.”

With Navratilova serving, trailing 2-1 in the second set, a phone began to ring. Navratilova stopped play, but umpire Leon Lipp of Dallas ordered her to continue.

Top-seeded Ivan Lendl got off to a quick start in the $385,00 Fila Trophy indoor tennis tournament, defeating Juan Aguilera of Spain, 6-3, 6-1, in a first-round match at Milan, Italy.

However, two Swedish players were upset. Fifth-seeded Henrik Sundstrom, weakened by a bad cold, lost to Russell Simpson of New Zealand, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, in a first-round match, and eighth-seeded Jan Gunnarsson was defeated in the second round by Bob Green, 6-0, 6-2.