TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN : Confident Sabatini Overwhelms Strnadova, 6-1, 6-1

Gabriela Sabatini has finally beaten her toughest opponent--herself.

The Argentine star faced a confidence crisis until she broke through to win the U.S. Open title in September. Now Sabatini knows she can beat anyone.

Sabatini, seeded third, routed Andrea Strnadova of Czechoslovakia, 6-1, 6-1, today to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

“Winning the U.S. Open helped me so much,” she said. “Before that I was working hard but couldn’t win the big tournaments. I was getting impatient with myself. I was playing well but not getting results. Now I’m much more relaxed.

“Now that I have won a Grand Slam event, I don’t have the same pressure. I have the experience now and I’ve proved to myself that I could do it. That is the main thing.”

In other women’s matches, top-ranked Steffi Graf of Germany downed Nichole Provis of Australia, 6-4, 6-2, sixth-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain defeated Lori McNeil, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, No. 13 Amy Frazier beat Carrie Cunningham, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, eighth-seeded Zina Garrison turned back Alexia Dechaume of France, 6-2, 6-4, and Karina Habsudova of Czechoslovakia defeated Elizabeth Smylie of Australia, 6-0, 3-6, 8-6.

On the men’s side, Patrick McEnroe upset No. 12 Jay Berger, 6-1, 7-5, 7-5, No. 10 Guy Forget of France outlasted Michael Stich of Germany, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3, and Mark Woodforde of Australia struggled past Grant Connell of Canada, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Sabatini has won her first three singles matches here in straight sets, dropping only eight games.

“I just did what I had to do,” Sabatini said. “I did everything right. Now I need longer matches to get tougher mentally and be ready for a big match.”