Chris Evert Tops U.S. Open Hurdle With 100 Victories

Chris Evert became the first player to win 100 matches at the U.S. Open tennis championships when she beat Patricia Tarabini 6-2, 6-4 today.

Evert, a fixture at the Open since 1971 and a six-time winner, was surprised to learn she had reached the century mark in victories.

“I didn’t realize it until I heard it on the court,” she said. “That’s a lot of matches.”

It was yet another highlight in Evert’s final appearance at a major tournament. She will retire from the tour after the Open.

Next up for Evert is 15-year-old Monica Seles of Yugoslavia, the 12th seed, in the round of 16.

In other third-round women’s singles action today, 13th seed Natalia Zvereva of the Soviet Union defeated American Tami Whitlinger 6-0, 6-2; Regina Rajchrtova, Czechoslovakia, defeated American Camille Benjamin 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; 12th-seed Seles defeated American Shaun Stafford 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; seventh-seed Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria beat Nathalie Tauziat, France, 6-1, 6-3, and fifth-seed Zina Garrison defeated fellow American Patty Fendick, 6-3, 7-5.

In today’s first-round doubles action, Americans Mary Joe Fernandez and Pam Shriver beat fellow countrywomen Susan Gilchrist and Audra Keller 6-1, 6-3.