Navratilova Avenges Loss to Garrison : Wins 7-6, 6-2 to Advance to Final Round

Martina Navratilova avenged a bitter defeat in last year’s U.S. Open by beating fellow American Zina Garrison in straight sets today to advance to Saturday’s women’s singles final.

Navratilova, who suffered her only defeat in 25 matches against Garrison in last year’s quarterfinals, defeated her quick-footed rival 7-6, 6-2 to reach the final for the seventh time.

Navratilova, a four-time Open singles champion, will meet the winner of the day’s other semifinal between top-seeded defending champion Steffi Graf of West Germany and third seed Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina.

A victory by Graf would give the second-seeded Navratilova yet another chance for revenge.

Graf denied Navratilova a record ninth Wimbledon singles championship when she beat the Czechoslovak-born American in three sets at the All England Club last July.

‘I Was Nervous’

Navratilova struggled through the early games against Garrison.

“I was sleepy and tight,” Navratilova said. “I was nervous and I couldn’t get a first serve going. I was hoping she’d make me run to get my blood flowing.”

Garrison woke up Navratilova, breaking her as Martina served for the first set and then taking a 4-3 lead in the tiebreaker. But then Navratilova threw it into overdrive, winning the final four points of the tie-breaker to take that set and steamrollering the second set.

Navratilova, despite struggling with her own service game, took advantage of the fifth-seeded Garrison’s weak second serve time and again, rushing toward the net for easy winners.

After taking the opening set tiebreaker 7-4, the 32-year-old Navratilova oozed confidence and sailed to victory in hot and hazy conditions at the National Tennis Center.

Asked if her triumph wiped out the hurt of last year’s defeat to Garrison, Navratilova replied: “I’ll never forget that loss. And I’ll never forget this win.

“I haven’t been in an Open final in a couple of years and haven’t won a Grand Slam in a while, and I would like to do that.”

The former world No. 1 last won the Open in 1987, which also marks the last Grand Slam win in her total of 17.

‘Played It Smart’

Garrison, who upset Chris Evert in an emotional quarter-final match, denied that she had experienced a letdown after that big win.

“I had two days off, and that was a good chance to get myself back together,” said Garrison, 25. “Martina played it smart. She made me hit that one more ball in every rally.”

Navratilova said her ability to attack Garrison’s serve was the key.

“I was able to attack her second serve and she was unable to attack mine. I’ve gotten to the finals here a lot easier than I thought I would,” said Navratilova, who had lost just nine games entering the semifinals.

“But that doesn’t mean anything tomorrow.”

The loss frustrated Garrison.

“I have to get someone to work on my head,” she said. “I’m in too close a position in these matches all the time. I really feel I’m a champion player, but I’ve failed to reach my potential. I have to learn to get vicious. I really want it. Maybe I want it too much.”

Navratilova understood.

“I guess it is the head,” she said, “because the head controls the rest of your body. It gives you your game and your stroke.”

The match was played in relative serenity compared to Thursday’s men’s quarterfinal, when Andre Agassi was nearly swallowed up in a crescendo of noise as he defeated Jimmy Connors in a marathon match.

Agassi took the first five-set victory of his career, 6-1, 4-6, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. That put him in the semifinals against top-seeded Ivan Lendl, who eliminated No. 9 Tim Mayotte 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. (Story, Part III, Page 1.)

In the men’s doubles finals today, seventh-seeded John McEnroe of Cove Neck, N.Y. and Mark Woodforde of Australia defeated fourth-seeded Americans Ken Flach and Robert Seguso, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In a girls’ singles quarterfinals match, 13-year-old Jennifer Capriati of Saddlebrook, Fla., seeded third, ousted 12th-seeded Kim Kessaris of Hendersonville, N.C., 6-3, 6-0.