WOMEN’S TENNIS / EVERT CUP : Frazier Wins, Calls Shriver Unprofessional

That Pam Shriver didn’t go quietly was hardly an upset. That she bowed out in controversy was.

Shriver is one of the most emotional and most outspoken players in tennis, but she has an almost impeccable image, and she is held in such high regard that she is the current president of the Women’s Tennis Assn.

Thursday, however, the 30-year-old veteran drew the ire of Amy Frazier, when Frazier, 19, ousted Shriver from the Matrix Essentials Evert Cup at Hyatt Grand Champions.

“She said I was unprofessional,” Shriver said.

Frazier made the remark as she shook hands with Shriver after a 6-2, 6-3 victory that put Frazier into the quarterfinals.

Frazier objected to something Shriver said after receiving a warning from the chair umpire for throwing her racket.

Shriver said: “I didn’t use any profanity.” Frazier disagreed, saying: “She said something mean and cruel to the umpire. I’ve never heard anything like that before.”

The incident that upset Frazier occurred late in the second set. Down 4-1, Shriver, disgusted with herself, tossed her racket about 15 feet at the chair she used during breaks.

Did Frazier’s criticism bother Shriver?

“No, I wouldn’t say so,” Shriver said. “On the court I can get emotional. I can’t say I’m always pleased with my ability to stay cool, calm and collected. I’m aware that it’s a weakness of mine.

“If I’m extremely frustrated and getting my hat handed to me as I did today, there are times when I do things like that.

“The thing is, it’s not a capital crime. If she (Frazier) could put herself in my place today, I think she’d say I did a good job of containing myself.

“This is my problem, and she should concentrate on what’s ahead. If she continues to play as well as she did today, she will have a good chance to win the tournament.”

Well, at least Frazier might have a good chance to play Monica Seles, the world’s top-ranked player, for the championship Sunday.

Frazier is seeded eighth--Shriver was 10th--but will meet unseeded Ann Grossman in the quarterfinals today. That portion of the draw opened when Martina Navratilova dropped out because of a stomach virus.

If Frazier defeats Grossman, who beat Kathy Rinaldi Thursday, 6-1, 7-5, she will meet the winner of today’s match between third-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain and sixth-seeded Judith Wiesner of Austria in the semifinals.

Martinez advanced by breezing past 12th-seeded Nicole Provis of Australia, 6-2, 6-2, and Wiesner won a three-hour marathon from 14th-seeded Helen Kelesi of Canada, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

Seles swept Tami Whitlinger, 6-2, 6-3, and will meet seventh-seeded Gigi Fernandez today. In the other quarterfinal, fourth-seeded Katerina Maleeva of Bulgaria will play fifth-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France.

Shriver’s frustration Thursday stemmed in large measure because of poor serving. “I got about only 30% or 40% of my first serves in and you can’t win at this level with that kind of serving.”

Tennis Notes

Most of the attention will be focused on Bjorn Borg when the ATP Senior Tour opens a four-day run here today with round-robin doubles play. Borg and Marty Riessen will meet Roy Emerson and Jose Higueras at 10 a.m.

With eight doubles teams, there will be three days of round-robin competition in two groups. The winners will meet Monday for the title. Singles play will be shootout style, only tiebreakers, and will be held Monday and Tuesday.