OAKLAND, California, Nov 10 : Martina Navratilova beat Lori McNeil in the semifinals of

the Virginia Slims of California on Saturday to set up a match against world number one Monica Seles with a chance at equalling Chris Evert's mark for most tournament titles.

The second-seeded Navratilova, winner of 156 tournaments, eliminated sixth seeded McNeil 6-3, 6-2, while top seed Seles overpowered third seed Manuela Maleeva-Fragnlereof Switzerland 6-2,

Seles, winner of the Australian, French and US Opens, has reached the finals of all 13 tournaments she has played In 1991 and captured eight titles.

Navratilova, ranked fourth in the world, has contested three finals against Seles this year and won once.

"I know I'm going to break (Evert's) record, unless I have an accident or something. I plan to play at least two more years and somewhere, somehow I will win two more tournaments,' said Navratilova.

*1 would Just be happy to beat Monica in a final because she is the number one player in the world."

Navratilova missed three

volleys and dropped her serve in the first game of the match, but Navratilova broke back in the next game and never lost serve again in the 46-minute match.

The combination of McNeil's flashy, somewhat reckless serve-and-volley game and Navratilova's athleticism provided the match with several exciting points, most of which Navratilova won.

Seles and Maleeva both played more aggressively than they usually do and each one served-and-volley frequently. The strength of Seles' first serve and the precision of her service returns made the difference in the o2-minute match.

Asked about meeting Navratilova in today's final, Seles said : "It's really an honour for me knowing that I am the favourite when Martina is going for it (Evert's record).

"Martina has been such a great champion for so long that I'm sure she'll break the record, but may be it won't be against me."

AP from Oakland adds, Displaying contrasting styles, top-seeded and top-ranked Monica Seles and No 2 seed Martina Navratilova advanced Into the Virginia Slims of California finals on Saturday, setting up a repeat of last year's title match.

Seles, who turns 18 next month, defeated No 3 seed Manuela Maleeva Fragniere of Switzerland 6-2, 6-1 in another awesome display of unrelenting baseline firepower that has no equal in women's tennis.

Last year. Seles beat a pained Navratilova in straight sets and shortly thereafter Navratilova underwent knee surgery. Seles went on to become No 1 in the world in March 1991, a spot she has surrendered only briefly since to Germany's Steffi Graf.

This year, Seles has lost only five matches, but one was against Navratilova earlier in the year. Seles has won their last two encounters.

Seles, a Yugoslav who lives in the United States, beat the lOth-ranked Maleeva Fragniere in 55 minutes. She’ broke the hard-serving native of Bulgaria at 1 -all in the first set with deep corner to corner shots. Maleeva Fragniere was also broken tn the seventh game.

In the second set Maleeva Fragnere's game crumbled even more. She had 28 unforced errors in the match to 14 for Seles and managed to get in only 48 percent of her first serves.

T couldn't get into a good rhythm." Maleeva Fragniere said.

The victory over McNiel

was No 1,317 for Navratilova, who added to her own record after surpassing Chris Evert s previous standard of 1.309 a month ago in Milan.

Now Navratilova tries to equal Evert's record of 157 tournament titles.

"I know I'm going to break it. even 1 have to play the Virginia Slims of Oklahoma," Navratilova said. "But I fell the pressure more playing against people I should beat.”

In her last three finals, she has lost twice to Seles, including once in the US Open, and once to 16-year-old Anke Huber of Germany.

But this time, it was McNeil who showed the effects of pressure.

With the players on serve tn the first set, McNeil served two straight double faults at 3-4. allowing Navratilova to easily break and then serve out the

Navratilova maintained her attacking momentum and broke again In the first game of the second set. Another double-fault at a crucial lime in the fifth game allowed Navratilova to break again. Navratilova, who put 78 percent of her first serves into play, yent on to close out the match in 47 minutes.

"It's not a matter of working on my serve," McNeil said. It's just mental. It happens the same time each match.”