European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday june 22,1937 the stars and stripes Page 23 Navratilova Becker face challenges 2-week Wimbledon tournament opens today by Bob Greenep Tauili Weller Wimbledon England Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker the reign in champions and no. 1 Sec i at Wimb Ledon which begins its fortnight run today Wear their crowns uneasily. Navratilova who has treated Wimble Don As her own for the last decade will have two challenges when she Steps onto the famed Cente court Al the All England club this week one rep resenting he past and one the future. The past ii american Helen wills Moody who won the prestigious grass court Tennis title eight time the Becker last in 1938. The future is West Ger Many s Steffi Graf who has yet to lose a match Shis year and wants to prove her game ii As potent on grass As it is on Day. Navratilova is going after her eighth Ingles title and is also is seeking her sixth consecutive Crown which would break the record of five in a Row she now Sham with Sweden s Bjorn Borg. Becker ranked no 2 in the world burst onto the Tennis scene two years ago when be became the youngest player the first non seeded player and the first Ger Man player to win the men s singles. He repealed last year. Ivan Lendl ranked no. I is out to prove that he can duplicate Berg s remarkable feat of winning the Frendin open on Day and conquering Wimble Don s grass courts with just a two wee break in Between. Last year Lendl came close reaching the final before he lost to Becker. If he wins this year Lendl will become Only the third Man to win three different grand slam tournament titles in a career since 1969 when Rod Laver of Australia captured All four. American Jimmy Connors seeded seventh this year and Guillermo Vilas of Argentina won three different grand slam tournaments. Martina will be much More deter mined to win Wimbledon again after los ing to me in Paris Graf said. And of course it will be More difficult for me on grass than on the Day in although she lost in Paris Navratilova said she Felt her game was finally Backoo where ii was two years ago when she dominated women s Tennis. And More importantly she feels she has regained her Confidence i m probably
