European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 7, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 25 Graf out duels f Navratilova for first slam title Paris a West Germany s Steffi Graf won the women s singles championship at inc French open saturday Healing Martina Navy Alimovs 6-4, 4-6, a 6 to win her first grand slam Tennis title. Graf became the youngest Holder of the women s singles Crown just eight Days Short or her 18th birthday grass Victory earned her $180,000, by far her biggest paycheck. Navratilova picked up $90,000. A swirling wind brought errors fro both players by t did nothing to d Imi Nish the excitement or tension especially inthe third set Navratilova served for he match at 5 4, but lost her nerve and hit two double Faulls. That dropped her Back to 5-5, an when she served at 6-7, she double faulted again this time on match Point giving Graf the title. It was such a close match Graf said. She could have won at 5-3, but i Hung in there. I or. Happy but somehow also  Navratilova runner up for three consecutive years after winning in 1982 and 1984, said needless to say i m disappointed. I m sorry. I m sure i la be Back next year. Stick  Graf ranked second in the world be Hind Navratilova became the first West German to win the women s title at Roland Garros and the youngest. The previous record was held by Britain Christine Truman who was 18 when she won in 1959, saturday s Victory was the seventh consecutive tournament title for Graf and stretched her unbeaten record to 39matches, stretching Back to nov. 23 when she was beaten in the final of Vir Ginia slims championships in new York by Navratilova since then however Graf has won every tournament in which she has competed while Navratilova has failed to capture a title. Navratilova appearing in her 24th grand slam final with a lot o prov after her poor year had several chances but lost her nerve at key moments de spite her big match experience. She lost the opening set in 37 minutes As she was broken for he second Lime in the match in the 10th game when two Sloppy backhands and a Graf Cross court Winner gave the West German three set Points. She needed Only one sending a Back hand Down he Middle of the court Wither opponent stranded after failing o put away two smashes. Navratilova stepped up the Pace in the second set Rushing the net and taking risks forcing Graf into errors in the stiff Breeze. Three Graf mistakes and a double Faull gave Navratilova a break in the third game and the next three games All went with service. In the seventh game Navratilova needed a Point for 5-2, Only to net an easy backhand service return. Graf won that game and broke Navratilova to level at 4-4 when she hit a Superb service return that her opponent volleyed into the net. The break Point that Navratilova had missed in the seventh game began Solook in danger of costing her match. Bui instead she broke Graf again for a s-4 Lead forcing three errors on her oppo nent s forehand usually the West Ger Man s strongest weapon. In the next game a smash and two fore hand volleys gave Navratilova three set Points. She evened he match at one set apiece when Graf netted a service return. Pressuring Graf into More errors Navratilova had two break Points in the third game of the final set but missed them both. She did break through in the fifth game however when Graf netted a fore hand and served with a 3-2 Lead. The West German who kept her concentration throughout the match an showed Little emotion normed straight Back breaking Navratilova Al love wit four outright winners a third consecutive service break gave Navratilova a 4-3 Lead and when she held serve for 5-3, she had two chancello win the match. But the 17-year-old held serve at love to pull Back to 4-5. With Navratilova Al from Page 21 to and extending the twins losing Streak to three. Greg Harris 2-4, allowed seven hits Over five innings for the Victory. Bert Blyleven 4-5, allowed five runs on six hits including two homers Over three innings. Texas which had 20 hits it a 14-3 Victory Over Chicago wednesday had 17 hits and 10waiks Oit four Minnesota pitchers. Angels 6. White sox 4 Anaheim Calif. Jack Howell hit a three run Homer to highlight a Sis run fifth inning handing Chicago ils third straight toss. John Candelaria 5-2, allowed four runs All in the fim inning on five hits striking out four and walking one Over seven innings Dewayne Buick pitched two witless innings for his third save Howell s Lith Homer capped the Angels rally against right hander Neil Allen f 2. Mariners 7, royals 1 Seattle Lee Zucherman pitched a seven hitter though seven innings and Mickey Brantley drove in four runs with a Homer and a single As Seattle downed Kan Sas cily to snap a three game losing Streak. Gutterman 3-0, won his third game since being called up from the minors two weeks ago allowing two runs sink ing out four and walking four. Steve Shields pitched he final two innings for his third save. Brantley hit a two run Homer in the fifth off Danny Jackson 2-1, and a two run single in the eighth. Indians 4, athletics 3 Oakland Calif. Tom Candiotti pitched a three hitter Over seven inning despite walking 10, leading Cleveland Over Oakland. Candiotti 2-6, won his first game since april 21 As the athletics stranded 12 runners. Scott Bailes pitched the final two innings for his fourth save. Joaqui Andujar 1-1, gave up All four Cleveland runs in six innings to Lake the loss. Chris Bando hit an rib grounder in the fourth la break a 2-2 tie and put the indians ahead for Good. Julio Franco had an rib double later in the inning. 17-year-old Stein Graf of West Germany Nisei the French open Winner s cup after becoming youngest women s Champ serving for the match Graf hit a Cross court service return that the czech born american could Onty Valley Long after she had double faulted twice. Graf held for 6-5, Navratilova for 6-6 and Graf for 7-6, staving off a crucial breakpoints when her opponent incl cd one of the easiest backhand volleys in the match then came the crunch As Navratilova netted an approach shot thai gave Graf match Point and followed in up with a double fault. After the 2-hour, 2-minute match Graf said i feel terrific there s no other Way to explain  she also said she was sorry at How Navratilova had let the match slip away when she served for the match Al 5-4 in the third let. She did the two double faults. Those were the key Points or very important Points. If she had not done that i Don t know if i would have won  despite the Victory and her 1987 win Ning Streak Graf said Navratilova Mill Isno. 1. So far i be had six unbelievable months. Every tournament i be played i be won. I did not think i would  Edberg defeats Curren in . Grass court final Manchester England up Sweden s Stefan Edberg justified his top seeding with a 6-3, 6-4 Victory Over Kevin Curren of the United slates in saturday s final of the Northern grass court Tennis tournament. In the Climax to a rain disrupted week the tint three Days of which passed with out a Ball being struck the 21-year-old Edbert toned up for Wimbledon with an easy Victory in Only 57 minutes. His first place prize was 3,000 pounds the swede s perfectly judged touches and Superior ground shots proved too much for the South african born Curren who was a Wimbledon runner up two years ago. De big broke Curran s service in the fourth game on his Way to taking the opening set Aud broke again a the third game of the second set. I though i played very Well but it was Windy out Here Edberg said. It s a great Confidence Booster for Wimble Don because i got some much needed play on grass. After i Gol the first break i Felt 1 had the match under control. I feel i have a Pood Chance at Wimbledon which is the big one for me added Edberg who is former australian open Champion. Am sports television Aba finals Las Angeles lakers i Boston celtics 7 . Sunday. Radio Aba finals los Angeles at Boston 7 . Sunday. Baseball Kansas City royals at Seattle mariners 10 30 . Sunday