TENNIS ROUNDUP : Date, Maleeva Advance With Upset Victories

Unseeded Kimiko Date of Japan upset third-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain, 6-3, 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open Friday at Tokyo.

In another upset, 16-year-old Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria defeated fifth-seeded Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, 6-2, 6-4.

In other matches, top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini beat Pam Shriver, 6-2, 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, and second-seeded Martina Navratilova beat eighth-seeded Laura Gildemeister, 6-4, 6-4.

Petra Thoren of Finland upset sixth-seeded Raffaella Reggi-Concato of Italy, 6-3, 6-2, and advanced to the semifinals of a tournament at Auckland, New Zealand.

Robin White defeated Monique Javer of Britain, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, top-seeded Andrea Strnadova overcame fifth-seeded Alexia Dechaume of France, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (8-6), 6-2, and third-seeded Larisa Savchenko-Neiland of Latvia beat eighth-seeded Bettina Fulco-Villella of Argentina, 6-2, 6-4.

Jim Courier can become the No. 1-ranked player in the world by reaching the final of $260,000 Volvo San Francisco tournament or by advancing to the semifinals and earning 15 bonus points, which are awarded to players for beating opponents ranked in the top 200.

But Courier’s draw for the San Francisco tournament could provide some challenges.

He opens Wednesday night against left-hander Mark Woodforde of Australia, who beat Courier in their only previous match. Next would be Kevin Curren or Jason Stoltenberg of Australia.

Also in Courier’s draw are Jimmy Connors, seeded eighth; Wally Masur of Australia, a semifinalist at San Francisco last year; Todd Witsken, a San Francisco finalist in 1990, and Bryan Shelton.

“If he (Courier) doesn’t make it this week, he’s going to make it soon,” said Brad Gilbert, seeded fourth in the tournament.

Courier, ranked second behind Stefan Edberg of Sweden, would become the first American since John McEnroe in 1985 to be No. 1.