Mandlikova Upset by Call, Gives Up, Loses to Shriver

Pam Shriver, taking full advantage of an opponent who felt she was being cheated and so gave up in disgust, won 12 of the final 14 games Thursday night to upset Hana Mandlikova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, and earn a berth in the semifinals of the $1-million Virginia Slims championships.

Martina Navratilova followed with a routine 6-2, 6-4 victory over Bettina Bunge, running her winning streak since early June to 51 matches. The defending champion, who is seeded No. 1, will meet Shriver in the semifinals, and Navratilova has won her last 19 matches against her doubles partner.

Mandlikova appeared well in control when she led, 4-1 and 5-3, in the second set, but she finally lost her cool following a series of calls that went against her. Mandlikova, seeded third, held service to open the final set but offered only token resistance as Shriver swept the final six games with the loss of six points.

In a statement, Mandlikova said: “I’ve played a hundred matches and I’ve never been cheated like this before. I don’t want to take anything away from Pam. I was playing my best tennis at the beginning and I felt I was being cheated. I can fight to a certain moment, but then it’s too much.”

The single call that unsettled Mandlikova occurred when she was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set. A forehand volley that appeared to hit the line was called out, allowing Shriver to complete the break and get back on service.

Jumping on the opportunity, Shriver took the next three games with the loss of three points to even the match.

Shriver admitted later that Mandlikova’s disputed shot was good but added that all players have to expect bad calls.

“She lost all heart after that,” the fifth-seeded Shriver said. “Things like that you just have to put out of your mind. I’m not going to give it to her, but I felt badly.”

Asked what she said to Mandlikova when the match was over, Shriver answered, “I said, ‘I’m sorry.’ I’m not sorry that I won, but I’m sorry that she felt she got the bad call and I was sorry she didn’t put up an effort the way she did in Chicago (when Mandlikova won).”