TEAMTENNIS : Strings Advance to Championship Against Atlanta

The Los Angeles Strings advanced to the TeamTennis championship match by defeating the San Antonio Racquets, 25-24, in the Western Division final Thursday night at San Antonio.

The Strings, the defending champions, will face the Atlanta Thunder Saturday at Atlanta. The Thunder advanced with a 30-23 victory over the Charlotte Heat in the Eastern Division final.

Trailing after four sets, 20-19, the Strings came back as player/coach John Lloyd teamed with Robin White for a 6-4 mixed doubles victory over Peter Doohan and Anne Smith. Sammy Giammalva, TeamTennis’ male most valuable player, replaced Doohan with the Racquets trailing, 5-4.

The Strings won the first set, 6-2, as White and Mary Lou Daniels defeated Smith and Gretchen Magers in women’s doubles.

San Antonio, which finished the regular season with a 13-1 record, won the next three sets. Magers beat White in women’s singles, 6-5 (5-4), Doohan and Giammalva defeated Jimmy Connors and Lloyd, 6-3, in men’s doubles, and Giammalva defeated Connors, 6-5 (5-3), in men’s singles.

Atlanta is led by Martina Navratilova.