TENNIS / WOMEN AT PALM SPRINGS : Win or Lose, Seles Bound for No. 1

The dawning of the Monica Seles era drew close Sunday at the Virginia Slims of Palm Springs, where by nightfall a new 17-year-old No. 1 player readied herself to take over.

Seles assured herself of the No. 1 spot in the rankings by reaching today’s final, leaving only one question unanswered--when?

How long must Seles must wait to plop into the throne? The answer is a week at most.

There are two scenarios:

1) If Seles beats Martina Navratilova in today’s final, she becomes No. 1 immediately.

2) If Navratilova wins, then Seles must wait a week to be No. 1, until the computer catches up.

Will this be the day? Seles certainly hopes so. After rolling through Patricia Hy and Helen Kelesi in quarterfinal and semifinal matches Sunday, Seles would prefer to get it over as quickly as possible.

“And retire from tennis?” Seles asked in jest. “A lot of my opponents would be happy. Definitely, it would be nice to not have to wait for a week.”

Based on revolving, 12-month results, the rankings will still show Seles as No. 1 even if Navratilova defeats her today because Steffi Graf would have no chance to equal Seles’ points average, even if she won next week’s tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.

If this is confusing, remember this is tennis we’re talking about.

Just bear in mind, win or lose today, Seles will replace Graf either today or next Monday and end her 3 1/2-year reign as queen of the computer.

The only obstacle barring Seles’ immediate occupancy is Navratilova. At 34, twice the age of Seles, Navratilova clearly remembers the first time she played Seles two years ago in Dallas.

“I thought ‘Uh, oh, here comes trouble from Yugoslavia,’ ” said Navratilova, who also had a busy day Sunday.

Navratilova prepped for her showdown with a pair of straight-set victories in the quarterfinal and semifinal round. By the end of the day, the final score was Navratilova 2, France 0. Navratilova defeated Julie Halard of France, 6-2, 7-5, and followed it up with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) decision over Halard’s countrywoman, Nathalie Tauziat.

Afterward, Navratilova continued her weeklong theme of downplaying the importance of today’s final.

“It doesn’t affect me at all,” she said. “I’m still No. 3. She’s going to be No. 1. I would just be slowing her down by a week, so it doesn’t mean that much, apparently.”

Seles arrived in the final by turning away Hy, 7-5, 6-2, in her first match of the day, then outslugged Kelesi, 6-0, 6-3.

With the No. 1 ranking in her sights, Seles said she isn’t planning on peeking too soon.

“I’m going to go out just not thinking about the ranking, but just winning the tournament,” she said. “Inside myself, I never thought I would be No. 1 this year (but) as long as I will stay there, I will be happy.”

Seles admitted to a fair degree of pleasure in withstanding the chip-and-charge tactics of Hy, followed by the all-out blitz mounted by Kelesi.

Needing 2 hours 27 minutes to end beat Peanut Louie Harper in the quarterfinals, Kelesi was pooped when she walked on the court to face Seles. It showed. Seles won the first set in 24 minutes.

“I really thought I was going to lose, 6-0, 6-0,” Kelesi said. “I was surprised to win three games.”

Navratilova’s semifinal with Tauziat, who had upset Katarina Maleeva earlier, was a lot tougher than Seles experienced.

Said Tauziat: “Martina will have to play very, very well to win. It’s a big test.”

Navratilova’s own assessment ran along the same lines. “I know I have to play better if I have any chance at all.

“I am not going to worry about her state of mind. I’m going to stay on my side of the net. I’m sure she’s not worried about what I’m thinking.”

The way things have worked out, Seles need worry only about what to wear for her coronation.