TOKYO, JAPAN (VISNEWS - KIMIAKA TANAKA)

FIRST SET: GV INT Martin Navratilova servers aces, wins first set, walks to seat
GV Crowd applauding
LV PULL BACK Navratilova serving and wins game
LV Scoreboard Navratilova leading 5-1
LV Lloyd serving, Navratilova hits into net
SV Spectators applauding
LV PULL BACK Navratilova serving and winning rally
GV Navratilova serves and wins match. Players shake hands and walk off together, shake hands with umpire.
LV Scoreboard: 6-3, 6-2 - Navratilova
SV Giant presented to Navratilova
CU Giant cheque for 100,000 dollars presented to Navratilova as crowd applaud (3 shots)

Background: INTRODUCTION: The world's four leading women professional tennis players have been taking part in a contest in Japan, ostensibly at finding out who is the best. In the final of the Lions' Ladies Cup Tennis Tournament on Sunday (22 November) Martina Navratilova of Czechoslovakia beat Chris Evert-Lloyd 6-3, 6-2. Tracy Austin, the United States Open Champion, beat Hana Mandikova of Czechoslovakia, 7-6, 7-6, to take third place.
SYNOPSIS: From the start, Miss Navratilova was firmly in command, showing her decisive and powerful service. Her confidence did not augur well for Mrs. Lloyd.
In this tournament, the former Czech, now an American citizen, showed the form which eluded her in this year's Wimbledon championships, and she avoided the collapse in performance that cost her the United States singles title.
Miss Navratilova was leading by five games to one in the first set when Mrs. Lloyd started a comeback with a service which caught her opponent off balance. But this point did not herald sustained improvement by Mrs. Lloyd.
Mrs. Lloyd continued to fight until the last. AT match point. Miss Navratilova's service launched a fast and lively exchanges close to the net, and the title was in her grasp.
Miss Navratilova won the game, set and match in style with an ace service. Her victory brought her a trophy and a cheque for 100,000 dollars.
The scoreboard showed just how impressively Miss Navratilova had won. Apart from bringing her a splendid payday, this Lions Ladies tournament brought some revenge against her fiercest rivals after a disappointing summer that had been punctuated as well by personal problems. For this victor, a handsome collection of spoils.
InitialsPM SPORT: LAWN TENNIS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved