Evert to Scale Back but Not Retire

TOKYO — Chris Evert will make an “official statement” if she decides to retire from women’s tennis, but said today that she will play fewer matches this year and next.

Evert was referring to reports that she would retire from tennis after this season and was considering an international farewell tour. The reports also said she and NBC-TV had held discussions about her becoming a tennis commentator for the network.

Asked about her future tennis plans, Evert replied, “I would be surprised if I played a full schedule in 1990.”

To Cut Back This Year

In 1989, she said, she would play two or three fewer tournaments than last year, “but I should like to play in the Wimbledon, the U.S. and French opens and several other tournaments like in Tokyo and in Palm Springs.”

She said her discussions with NBC are still “preliminary.”

Evert said she will make an international farewell tour if she quits tennis.

Asked about her physical condition, Evert said, “I don’t know because the Pan-Pacific tournament is this year’s first competition for me after two months off at home. I started weight training in January.”

Evert is seeded second in the event behind American Martina Navratilova.

Evert is to meet another American, qualifier Andrea Leand, in a second-round match on Thursday after drawing a first-round bye today.

Navratilova is to meet Japan’s Nana Miyagi on Thursday.