Tennis Roundup : Navratilova and Sukova Reach Final

Martina Navratilova, seeking her fifth consecutive title in the event, cruised into the final of the women’s grass court tournament at Eastbourne, England, where she will meet Czechoslovakia’s Helena Sukova for the second straight year.

Both finalists posted easy semifinal victories Friday, Navratilova crushing an injured Claudia Kohde-Kilsch of West Germany, 6-2, 6-0, and Sukova brushing aside Robin White, 6-0, 6-2.

Navratilova, who has reached the final seven times, received plenty of help from Kohde-Kilsch, who suffered a lower back strain Thursday.

Kohde-Kilsch committed 12 double-faults in the 51-minute match, which included a four-minute injury timeout.

Kohde-Kilsch held her service after two deuces in the third game and at 30 in the seventh game of the first set. Otherwise, it was all Navratilova.

To reach the semifinals, White upset second-seeded Hana Mandlikova of Czechoslovakia and No. 7-seeded Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina.

Vijay Amritraj of India moved into his first Grand Prix final in two years by defeating Australian newcomer Mark Woodforde, 6-4, 6-1, at Bristol, England.

Amritraj will face Henri Leconte of France in today’s final. Leconte beat American Bud Schultz, 6-3, 6-0, in just 49 minutes.