European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 2, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday july 2, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 25 Wimbledon history at stake in women s final by Andrew Warsha Wimbledon England a the women s final at Wimbledon this afternoon Between the world s top two players is not just any championship  both Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova there is far More at stake than just winning the title. Navratilova who has dominated the event for almost a decade is aiming at two records a ninth singles title to overtake the Mark she shares with Helen wills Moody and a seventh successive Wimbledon Crown. Graf also is on a quest to make history. The 19-year-old West German win Ner of the French and australian Cham my sch five on an to 3 . Pion ships will Complete the third leg of the grand slam if she wins. Then Only the . Open will Stan Between Graf and a place in the annals of Tennis. American Maureen Connoll Yand Margaret court of Australia Are the Only other women to win the four grand slam tournaments in the same Calendar  match is a repeat of last year s final when Navratilova won 7-6, 6-1,wearing Down a nervous Graf with a sliced serve to the West German s backhand that reaped Points. Navratilova won again when the pair met on Cement in the final of the . Open stretching her career record against Graf to 7-3. But since then her opponent has Beeton a remarkable Roll. In her three grand slam tournament this year Graf has won 20 matches in a Row without dropping a single set including six rounds on the grass at Wimb Ledon on what has always been Rega Dedas her least favorite surface. In reaching the final she has lost Only six games at an average of 2.83 games per  s a statistic Navratilova can get no where near  while Graf has destroyed All opponents in her Way driving them off the court with her devastating forehand and a quickness that had semifinal victim  Shriver shaking her head in disbelief Navratilova has  her quarterfinal the defending Champion playing in her 16th Wimble Don was Down 4-2 in both the second and third sets against unseeded Ros Fairbank of South Africa. In the semis Evert took Navratilova to the Brink. She saved three match Points before going Down 6-1,4-6, 7-5.Evert, having met Navratilova 78 times knows her rival s game better than anyone. Yet she still picks Graf to win. I think Martina is a Little fragile Evert said. I Don t think she s conf  said she is confident of reversing last year s result and winning her first Wimbledon title. Last year Martina s strongest Point was certainly her sliced serve on my backhand. I made Many mistakes on that Point Graf said. I m prepared for that this , whose serve and Volley game has improved immeasurably since Las year to go with her destructive grounds strokes Nas one worry going into the championship match pressure. The pressure is certainly on me be cause she won the title so Many times and she is the favorite even if i am no. 1.it is her surface Graf said. It s also been grass surface for the past two weeks. But none of her opponents has had the Wimbledon Pedigree of a Navratilova. I want that ninth title Navratilova said. I Don t want to wait till next year. A photos no. 2 seed Martina Navratilova top seeded Steffi Graf Graf appears to be a Winner by Rick Warnera Tennis writer Wimbledon England a analysis of today s women s final at Wimbledon Between top seeded Steff Graf and no. 2 Martina Navratilova serve grass serve has improved dramatically Over the past year and now rivals Navratilova s As a major weapon. The major difference is that Graf hits a fairly Flat first serve while Navratilova prefers to slice the Ball. Advantage none Volley Navratilova is still the Best Volley Erin the sport but Graf has become More comfortable at the net As she plays More matches on grass. Navratilova often rushes the net directly offer serve while Graf sets up most of her volleys with her forehand blast. Advantage Navratilova Edberg from Page 21 seventh game broke for 5-3 in a game filled with Mecir mistakes and served out the set at love As Mecir netted a  was t finished. He had one last surge left going up 3-1 with a break on a analysis ground strokes Graf has the Best forehand in women s Tennis a blazing shot that sets up most of her winning Points. Her Back hand has been a weakness in the past especially in last year s Wimbledon loss to Navratilova. But her backhand has improved greatly since last year and is no longer a soft spot. Navratilova s ground strokes Are As varied As any player in the game. She can slice chop lob and hit topspin shots from both sides. Advantage Graf surface grass is Navratilova s favorite sur face because it puts a Premium on serve and Volley. Graf would rather play on Clay or hard courts but her dominance so far in the tournament shows she can also Excel on grass. Advantage Navratilova momentum Graf has breezed to the final with out losing a set while Navratilova has struggled in her last two matches. Advantage Graf 9 motivation plenty on both sides. Navratilova can set Wimbledon records with her seventh straight singles title and ninth Overall. Graf who won the australian and French opens can keep alive her Hopes for the first Tennis grand slam since 1970 and avenge last year s loss to Navratilova. Advantage none head to head Navratilova leads series 7-3. Winner Graf. Backhand service return. But Edberg broke right Back at love and again for a 4-3 Lead on one of the brightest Points of an often Brilliant  backhand by Edberg Down the line struck the net Ord More than a foot into the doubles Alley. The Ball moving like a Bullet kicked Back into the court an Mecir returned with a forehand deep into the Corner. Edberg chased it Down and sent a rocket backhand Cross court Tom Cir s backhand Corner. Again the czechoslovak dug it out Rev Irving Cross court yet again. But this time Edberg was in position and Mecir was not. The swede ended the Point with a backhand Volley into an open court. Edberg held at love for 5-3 and moved to match Point with an Ace. The final Point followed quickly