Tennis Roundup : Graf Victory Leaves Navratilova in Tears

Steffi Graf, a 16-year-old West German, upset top-seeded Martina Navratilova, 6-2, 6-3, at West Berlin Monday to win the $150,000 women’s West German Open, her fourth straight tournament victory in a row.

“I played my best tennis today. But Martina is still the No. 1 player in the world,” Graf said after receiving a check for $29,000. “I’ve had a lot of success recently, but this is my most beautiful day.”

Navratilova, the world’s No. 1 player, broke into tears after suffering her first career defeat against the second-seeded West German.

It was the 20th singles victory in a row for Graf, who has emerged as a contender at the French Open, which starts next Monday.

In three previous encounters, Graf had failed to take a set off Navratilova.

In their last match, Navratilova routed Graf, 6-2, 6-2, March 22 in the Masters in New York. It was Graf’s last defeat this year.

Navratilova was visibly disappointed as she received a check for $13,000.

“I am sorry I didn’t play better, especially with my father and mother and my sister watching. It was over much too quickly,” said the 29-year-old left-hander as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Steffi made so few unforced errors. I didn’t expect that. But I learned something from my defeat and I’ll know what I have to do if I meet her again in Paris.”

At Athens, Ga., fifth-seeded Pepperdine upset top-seeded SMU, and sixth-seeded Stanford defeated second-seeded UCLA to advance to the final of the NCAA team championships with 5-1 victories.

Craig Johnson clinched Pepperdine’s victory with a 6-2, 6-2 win over SMU’s Ed Ross at No. 6 singles.

UCLA’s only victory came at No. 5 singles where Brett Greenwood defeated John Letts, 7-5, 6-2.

All doubles matches were canceled.

At Austin, Tex., Patty Fendick’s 7-5, 6-2 victory over previously unbeaten Caroline Kuhlman of USC boosted Stanford to the NCAA women’s team championship.

The Cardinal clinched the 5-4 victory when its doubles team of Stephanie Savides and Cari Hagey defeated USC’s Mary Norwood and Heliane Steden, 6-4, 7-5. Stanford ends the year at 21-1; USC at 22-3.

Fendick stopped a 30-match winning streak by Kuhlman, who enters today’s 64-player singles draw as the top-seeded player. Fendick is seeded sixth.

In the consolation match, Miami beat Trinity, 5-4.