Navratilova: Beating Seles Easier on Hard Court : Tennis: The two are playing in Evert Cup, which begins today at Indian Wells.

Monica Seles is as close to a sure thing as there is in women’s tennis these days, having won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments last year.

But if Martina Navratilova had a choice, a hard court would be the surface she would select to play the top-ranked Seles. Navratilova, ranked fourth, could get that chance this week at Indian Wells, where she is seeded to meet Seles in the final of the Evert Cup. The tournament starts today at Hyatt Grand Champions Resort.

“This is where Monica is most vulnerable,” Navratilova said during a conference call. “I’m looking forward to seeing her. On hard courts, she doesn’t have much of a chance to set up her shots. She won’t have as much time to get to the ball as on clay.”

One thing is certain. A Seles-Navratilova matchup will not happen in the 1992 Summer Olympics.

That has Navratilova more than a little upset. “I think the selection system stinks,” she said. “The rule is self-serving and very unfair.”

Navratilova referred to the rule that makes Seles and her ineligible for the Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain, basically because neither competed in the Federation Cup last year at Nottingham, England.

Beyond her own disappointment at missing the Olympics, Navratilova is unhappy about the exclusion of Pam Shriver, who has dropped to 41st in the rankings.

“That’s ridiculous,” Navratilova said. “Pam won a gold medal in ’88. She should be there.”

Shriver teamed with Zina Garrison to win the doubles at Seoul, South Korea. For the 1992 Games, Garrison has been chosen, along with Jennifer Capriati, Mary Joe Fernandez and Gigi Fernandez.

But even if Navratilova is not on the Olympic team, she is not ready to fade from the spotlight.

On Feb. 16, she became the record-holder for tournament victories--158--by winning the Virginia Slims of Chicago. She had shared the record with Chris Evert, who retired in 1989 at age 34.

“A lot has been made of this record,” she said. “People say that’s all I live for. All that stuff is nonsense. Wimbledon is the only record I ever shot at.”

Navratilova has won nine Wimbledon singles championships, topping the record of eight set by Helen Wills Moody.

“Now that I’ve done it (won her 158th tournament), it’s more of a relief,” she said. “It was just a matter of when it happened. Now I’m just playing tennis.”