TOKYO, Feb 1 Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina survived the final set tic- break lo beat her arch rival

Steffi Gt al of Germany in the quarter finals of ihc 350,000 dollar Today Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament here Friday, reports AFI1

The fifth seeded Argentine, who also defeated the current world champion in the U.S. Open final lo win her first ever Grand Slam title in September, rallied from one set and 0-2 down lo Score a 4-6. 6-4. 7-6 (8/6) victory.

Martina Navratilova of the United Slates, who was back in action after a three-month break due to arthroscopic knee surgery In mid-Novem-ber. also advanced to the semifinals. overpowering her compatriot Robin White 6-2. 6-3.

In the semi-finals Saturday. Sabatini, the winner here In 1987, will take on Mary Joe Fernandez of the United Slates.

The fouYth-seeded American trounced unseeded Nana Miyagi of Japan 6-2. 6-0 earlier In the day.

After breaking the opening game to take the first set. Graf, the defending champion, again jumped In front at 2-0 in the second and repeatedly threat cncd the South American, gaining several break opporiu nllics in the third game.

But the 20-ycar-old Argon tine managed to escape the crisis and broke back In the fourth and tenth games to tic the match al one set all. Neither could break the other in the decider, although the German held six break chances while the Argentine had only one before going into the tie-break, and the two women fought point for point before Sabatini took a commanding 6-5 lead showing aggressive return-and volk-y tactics.

Graf managed lo save the first match point against her when she forced the Argentine to misfire p backhand volley, but Sabatini finished off the two-hour. 26-mlnutc battle with a backhand passing shot for a clean winner down the line.

'll was a very good match, because I played very good tennis and she had to play very well," said the U.S. Open champion, for whom It was a second consecutive win over Graf, following her triumph in the year ending Virginia Slims championships semi-finals in November.

"I kept up the pressure on her and I just kept playing aggressive. even if when I was down. Every time I go to play against her. I have the mentality that I can beat her If 1 play well.' she added.

"I played badly in the first round.' said Sabatini, who struggled lo beat Australia s Rachel McQuillan 1n three sets Tuesday

'Probably II was the key lo win today. I worried about that match, so I concentrated more than before to ... try to play at a belter level.' she added

She said the day's victory over Graf on the fast artificial court gave her more confidence. "For sure. It's one of my goals to win Wimbk-don." she added.

Sabatini stretched her head to-head record lo six wins and ,20 losses against the top seeded German in major tournaments.

For Graf, ft was first lime since 1985 that she failed to move Into the final for three tournaments in a row.

The 21-year-old world champion, who tool to Sabatini Ir the semi-finals of the Virginia slims championships, also crashed out of the Australian Open last week when •he bowed to Jana Novotna of Czechoslovakia In the quarter-tlnala. The Shell shocked world No 1 who has been struggling hard to make up for her recent disappointing performances, refused a joint post-match Interview and tearfully returned to her hotel.

■The action cost her a fine of 250 U.S.dollars. Organizers said

Later in the day. seventh-seeded Laura Gildcmeislcr of Peru came from behind to beat Kathy Rinhldi of the United States 5-7. 6-4, 6-3 and secured a berth In the semi-fi-nals.

She will play third-seeded Navratilova Saturday In the lower half of the draw, from which Monica Seles of Yugoslavia withdrew wilh an injury lo her shoulder Thursday.

The Czech-born American, who needed only 55 minutes to beat White, was never tn danger in her match.

"It could have been closer, but I wasn't down one break point (againsl her) in the whole match. So that's a good Indicator that I played Just a good, solid performance all around," said the 34 ycar old former world No. I.

Singles quarter-finals (* denotes seeds):

Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina x-5) bl Steffi Graf (Germany x-I) 4-6. 6-4, 7-6 (8/6).

Mary Joe Fernandez (USA x 4| bt Nana Miyagi (Japan) 6-2. 6-0.

Martina Navratilova (USA x-3) bt Robin White (USA) 8-2. 6-3.

Laura Gildcmetater (IVru x 7 bt Kathy Rinaldi (USA) 5 7, 6-4. 6-3.