Austin’s Return to Singles Play Spoiled

Robin White rallied twice to spoil Tracy Austin’s return to singles play with a 7-6, 6-4 victory Friday night in the first round of an exhibition tennis tournament at Haverford College.

White, ranked 39th in the world, trailed, 5-2, in the first-set tiebreaker before winning the next 5 points. In the second set, she overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the match.

Austin, a two-time former U.S. Open champion, hadn’t played a singles match since defaulting to Australian Wendy Turnbull in June 1983 because of an injury.

White kept Austin off balance with an array of chips and drop shots, finally breaking serve in the final game of the match on a cross-court forehand.

White will meet Martina Navratilova, ranked No. 2 in the world, in the semifinals tonight. Navratilova defeated South African Mariaan DeSwardt, 6-1, 6-0, Friday.

In the other semifinal, Susan Sloane will play Betsy Nagelsen.