TENNIS / U.S. WOMEN’S HARDCOURT : Despite a Slow Start, Graf Finishes Off Javer, 6-3, 6-1

Second-ranked Steffi Graf of Germany shook off a sluggish start and overpowered Monique Javer, 6-3, 6-1, Wednesday night to reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Hardcourt Championships.

Javer was competitive until 3-3 in the first set, when Graf broke her serve. Javar did not manage another service victory until Graf led, 5-0, in the second set.

“I will be working on getting a faster start,” said Graf, dislodged recently as the No. 1 player in the world by Monica Seles.

“It doesn’t matter right now whether No. 1 or No. 2. At this stage, I’m not worried about it at all.”

The top-seeded Seles plays her second-round match today against unseeded Claudia Porwik of Germany. Graf has today off and will play her quarterfinal match Friday against the winner of today’s match between seventh-seeded Susan Sloane and unseeded Ann Henricksson.

Barring upsets, Seles and Graf would meet for the first time this year in Sunday’s final.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals was Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere of Bulgaria, who beat Isabelle Demongeot of France, 6-2, 6-2.

Pam Shriver, on the comeback trail after shoulder surgery last year, lost to Eva Sviglerva of Czechoslovakia, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

In other matches, sixth-seeded Lori McNeil beat Patty Fendick, 6-4, 6-3, and Julie Halard of France ousted Alexia Dechaume, also of France, 6-1, 6-3.