No. 2 Graf Beats Navratilova

Steffi Graf, the new No. 2 in computer rankings of women’s tennis, used her overpowering forehand and a baffling wind to whip top-ranked Martina Navratilova 6-3, 6-2 today in the semifinals of the International Players Championships.

Navratilova lost only three matches in 1986, and one of those was to Graf in the final of the German Open. “I’m so happy about the match,” Graf said. “It’s one of the biggest wins I’ve ever had.” In the night semifinals, second-seed Chris Evert Lloyd takes on fourth-seed Hana Mandlikova of Czechoslovakia.