Navratilova Set to Play on Tuesday

Martina Navratilova, who has not played since winning a record ninth Wimbledon championship, will begin the defense of her Virginia Slims of Los Angeles title Tuesday in Manhattan Beach.

Navratilova withdrew from last week’s Great American Bank tournament in San Diego because of a twisted ankle, but the injury is not expected to affect her play.

Navratilova could meet third-seeded Zina Garrison in the semifinals, a rematch of the Wimbledon final won by Navratilova.

The top match in today’s opening session will pit 15-year-old Mary Pierce of France against Andrea Temesvari of Hungary.

The $350,000 tournament is being held at Manhattan Country Club, a private tennis club. But Bruce Hecker, the club’s general manager, said it is club policy to show no racial bias toward any prospective member.

“From the beginning, the club wrote a rule that we wouldn’t discriminate against anyone, regardless of race, color or creed,” Hecker said.

Hecker said the club has a number of black members.

Entrance policies of private clubs that hold sporting events have come under closer scrutiny since the site of the PGA Championship, Shoal Creek Country Club in Alabama, revealed that it had a no-blacks rule, which has since been modified.