Soviet Women Tennis Pros to Play in Chicago

The three top Soviet women tennis professionals, including seventh-ranked Natalia Zvereva, will be among the field of 32 players at the $250,000 Virginia Slims of Chicago tournament Nov. 7-13.

Joining the 17-year-old Zvereva from the Soviet Union will be Larissa Savchenko, No. 17 in the world, and Leila Meskhi, rated 37th.

The Soviet players will join defending Chicago champion, Martina Navratilova, the world’s second-ranking women’s tennis player.

Zvereva lost out to Navratilova in last year’s finals, but since then has cracked the top 10 after reaching the finals of the French Open and defeating Navratilova twice in other events.

Savchenko, 22, rated No. 55 in 1985, reached the finals of this year’s Virginia Slims of California.

This year’s Chicago Slims, to be held at the University of Illinois Circle Pavilion, also will feature Houston’s Zina Garrison, currently ranked No. 9 in the world, and third-ranked Chris Evert.