Seles Barely Works Up a Sweat : Tennis: She quickly disposes of Gigi Fernandez at Indian Wells. Borg loses in men’s senior doubles.

The only way to create any suspense in the Matrix Essentials Evert Cup tennis tournament would be to have Monica Seles play her matches on a handicap basis.

If the world’s best women’s player were to spot each opponent three or four games per set, she might have to struggle once in a while. As it is, she is making the event at Hyatt Grand Champions look like a walk in the park.

Seventh-seeded Gigi Fernandez supposedly had a chance to make things interesting Friday, but she was even easier prey than Seles’ first two victims. Seles needed only 38 minutes and gave up only 15 points in a 6-0, 6-0 wipeout.

Seles has lost only seven games in six sets en route to the semifinals. She will meet fourth-seeded Katerina Maleeva of Bulgaria today. The other semifinal matches third-seeded Conchita Martinez against Ann Grossman.

Against Seles, Fernandez had one bright moment: She started the match with an ace. Seles won the next four points, and the rout was on. Fernandez was game but helpless as Seles made one dazzling shot after another.

Fernandez managed a smile.

“I like to have fun,” she said, “but today was one of those days when I didn’t know what to do to have fun. When you’re getting slaughtered like I was, it’s not possible.

“I tried to play my game, but when I went in (to the net), she passed me. You can’t beat her at the baseline, but I tried standing four feet behind the baseline and two feet in front of it. She’s just too good.

“I don’t think I’ve ever lost love and love in my life. Oh, yeah, there was one time when I was 8 years old.”

Asked if she thought anyone could give Seles trouble, Fernandez said without hesitation, “No.”

The one player good enough to push Seles in this tournament was Martina Navratilova, and hopes for that matchup in the title match were dashed Monday when Navratilova withdrew because of a stomach virus.

Seles found it hard to believe that Fernandez hadn’t given her a more strenuous workout.

“I didn’t expect it to be this fast,” Seles said. “She was missing shots she usually doesn’t miss. I usually don’t win matches love and love. I usually lose one game.

“When she aced me on the first point, I thought there might be a tough day ahead of me, but I didn’t think she could hit all her serves like that.”

Maleeva earned her shot at Seles by beating fifth-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Martinez beat No. 6 Judith Weisner of Austria, 6-3, 6-1, and Grossman outlasted No. 8 Amy Frazier, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Grossman’s victory was an emotional one, coming close to the first anniversary (March 16) of her father’s death.

“This is a very tough time for me,” Grossman said. “Last week in Oklahoma, I bawled my eyes out. But Amy has been so good to me. We grew up together playing juniors, and she’s always there for me. We’re so close, it’s tough for us both when we play each other.”

Bjorn Borg, making a comeback after being out of competitive tennis since 1981, was the main attraction as the ATP senior tour event opened with the first of three days of round-robin doubles.

Borg, 35, was not overly impressive as he and Marty Riessen lost to Roy Emerson and Jose Higueras, 6-2, 6-4. But Borg has never been known for his doubles play.

“I prefer to play singles,” he said. “I just want to be competitive, and enjoy tennis again. In ‘81, I had gotten to the point where I didn’t care about winning or losing.”