Martina Navratilova consolidated her status as the worlds top womens lawn tennis player when she beat Tracy Austin 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to win the $100,000 (£50,000) first prize at the Avon Women’s Championship in New York.

The United States Czechoslvak kept the 13,752 spectators at Madison Square Garden, the largest crowd ever at a women’s tournament, on tenterhooks before surviving the crisis and clinching victory.

The triumph brought Miss Navratilova’s earnings this year to $271,000. Miss Austin’s earnings in her first year as a professional stand at $121,250.

Britain’s Sue Barker collected $30,000 by crushing Dianne Fromholtz of Australia 6-2, 6-2 in the third place play off.

John McEnroe beat Roscoe Tanner 6-4,6-2 to win the $175,000 New Orleans Festival.