Tennis Roundup : Lloyd and Mandlikova Gain Semifinals

Chris Evert Lloyd breezed to a straight-set victory, but Hana Mandlikova was extended to three sets before advancing to the semifinals of the Family Circle Magazine Cup women’s tennis tournament Friday at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Lloyd defeated Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, 6-3, 6-4, while Mandlikova overcame Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4.

In other quarterfinals, Steffi Graf of West Germany beat Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria, 6-5, 7-5, and Stephanie Rehe ousted Sabrina Goles, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.

Lloyd will meet Rehe, 16, and Mandlikova will face Graf, 16, in today’s semifinals.

Lloyd had a few problems with Sukova’s serve but expressed satisfaction with her play.

“I thought Helena played well and served very well and very aggressively,” Lloyd said. “It’s hard for me to overpower a player like her. I just tried to play my game and be consistent hitting out my ground strokes and get a good percentage of first serves in.”

After taking a 3-1 lead in the first set, Mandlikova saw her lead evaporate to 4-all before winning the set, 7-5. Mandlikova, admitted that, after falling behind, 3-0, in the second set, she “saved” herself for the third set and wound up losing the second at love.

“I didn’t play very well,” Mandlikova said. “I missed too many shots--especially backhands--and I don’t usually do that.”

Rehe, of Highland, Calif., won the second-set tiebreaker, 7-0, on the way to her three-set victory.

Yannick Noah lost just one service break in his WCT Finals quarterfinal match at Dallas Thursday night against third-seeded Stefan Edberg of Sweden and still lost, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6.

“It was an interesting match,” Noah said. “I would have had to return better on his second serves and have been more aggressive. On this fast surface, the serve is important, and Edberg’s serve moves well.”

In the only other match Thursday, Sweden’s Anders Jarryd upset countryman Joakim Nystrom, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.