Navratilova Wins Three Matches as Thunder Defeats Strings for Title

When TeamTennis began this season, the most prominent difference was the addition of two of the biggest names in the sport--Martina Navratilova and Jimmy Connors.

The participation wasn’t only ceremonial. Their respective teams wound up in the summer league’s championship match Saturday, and Navratilova’s Atlanta Thunder defeated Connors’ Los Angeles Strings, 27-16.

Navratilova, a nine-time singles champion at Wimbledon, played a big part in Atlanta’s victory. She won her singles match and participated in two doubles victories as the Thunder prevented the Strings from winning the championship for the second consecutive year.

Marty Davis and Kelly Evernden got Atlanta off to a lead, as they defeated Connors and John Lloyd in the men’s doubles, 6-5 (5-3). Connors then defeated Evernden, 6-3, to give the Strings an 11-9 lead.

However, Navratilova dominated the rest of the events.

She teamed with Davis in the mixed doubles for a 6-1 victory over Lloyd and Robin White, she defeated White in the women’s singles, 6-2, and she and Mariaan de Swardt rolled over Mary Lou Daniels and White in the women’s doubles.