Evert Loses to Hanika in First-Round Match at New York

Chris Evert, who had never lost a set to Sylvia Hanika in 14 matches, was upset by the West German Monday night in the first round of the $1-million Virginia Slims Championships.

Hanika, who is unseeded, stunned third-seeded Evert, 6-4, 6-4, before a crowd of 9,813 at Madison Square Garden.

It was the second major upset produced by Hanika in Madison Square Garden. She defeated Martina Navratilova in the 1982 Avon Championships final.

Evert double-faulted eight times Monday night, six coming in the first set when she fell behind in the opening game and never recovered.

Entering the match, Evert had a 14-0 record against the 14th-ranked Hanika dating back to 1978.

“I just tried to keep the pressure on her,” said Hanika, who turns 28 in two weeks. “I didn’t let her find her rhythm. She’s still fighting, still coming on strong, but maybe the fire is not so much there anymore. She’s a great champion with an unbelievable career behind her, but it has to end one day.”

Evert, who turns 33 next month and admits she feels her age, had not been beaten in the opening round of a tournament since the 1985 Slims Championships, when she lost to Kathy Jordan.