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SINGLED OUT : Shriver Says She Is at a Crossroads After Third-Round Loss to Magers

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Times Staff Writer

In the 1970s, Pam Shriver emerged on the tennis scene.

In the 1980s, she teammed with Martina Navratilova to win 21 Grand Slam doubles titles.

And the 1990s?

“They’ve got to be the family decade,” said Shriver, 26. “I’ve got to start looking for a husband.”

Obviously, Shriver is tired of the singles scene.

She has been hinting at it for some time, but Shriver’s attention turned even more away from singles tennis after her 2-6, 6-2, 12-10 upset loss to Gretchen Magers in a third-round match Saturday.

Shriver’s career is changing. She and Hank Harris, her hitting coach, are parting ways after Wimbledon and she is looking for someone to help put her on the right track.

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The problem is to find the right balance between tennis and the rest of her life.

“Right now, with my mental attitude, I have to make a choice,” she said. “I’m going to have to figure it out one way or another.’

Magers, 25, who is ranked No. 40 in the world, lives on a sailboat in San Diego with her husband, Steve, a student at San Diego State.

Getting paddled by Magers didn’t upset Shriver.

“I’m certainly not shamed by losing to someone of that quality,” said Shriver, ranked No. 9.

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Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert both breezed into the fourth round. Navratilova defeated Nicole Provis of Australia, 6-0, 6-3, and meets Hana Mandlikova of Australia next.

Evert handled Anne Hobbs of England, 6-4, 6-1, and plays Patty Fendick of Sacramento in the fourth round.

French Open semifinalist Mary Joe Fernandez of Miami advanced with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, victory over Catherine Tanvier of France. In the fourth round, Fernandez meets Ros Fairbank of South Africa, who defeated Gabriela Sabatini in the second round.

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