Martina Navratilova staved off a challenge from unseeded Kim Shaefer, 6-4, 6-1, Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the $150,000 Virginia slims tournament at Dallas.
Shaefer, ranked 55th in the world, took a 3-0 lead in the first set and had a break point for a 4-0 advantage.
But Navratilova saved the break point with a service winner. After Shaefer held her serve for a 4-1 advantage, Navratilova took control and Shaefer could win only one of the last 12 games.
In the quarterfinals, Navratilova will play Claludia Kohde-Kilsch, who beat Sylvia Hanika, 6-2, 6-3.
Chip Hooper of the United States advanced to the second round of the $267,000 Belgian Indoor Championship, beating Australian Paul McNamee, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, at Brussels.
