Martina Hingis of Switzerland, the 14-year-old prodigy, had an easier time Thursday in advancing to the quarterfinals of her second pro tournament. She took just 77 minutes to roll past Christina Singer, 26, of Germany, 6-1, 6-4.
"I'm sure it's not pleasant for players who have been on the tour for five or six years when a little brat wins against them," said Hingis.
Navratilova, 37, needed 2 1/2 hours to struggle past McNeil at the $400,000 tournament, the last stop in Europe on her farewell tour as she winds down her career. McNeil appeared headed for an upset against the tennis great when she fired two strong serves to set up match point at 7-6 in the second-set tiebreak.
But Navratilova slammed a backhand volley on the next point and won the tiebreak behind two McNeil errors.
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The most notable thing about Goran Ivanisevic's match with Richard Krajicek at the Seiko Super Tennis tournament in Tokyo on Friday was when a point lasted longer than three strokes. The two serve-and-volley artists blasted aces and service winners at each other until Ivanisevic, the top seed, won the quarterfinal meeting on tiebreaks, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (8-6).
Third seed Stefan Edberg of Sweden had little trouble handling New Zealander Brett Steven, 6-4, 6-3. Earlier, No. 10 Jacco Eltingh of the Netherlands overcame the 16th seed, American Jonathan Stark, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). The Associated Press
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