Laver Recovers To Beat Unseeded Brazilian

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 17

Laver Recovers To Beat Unseeded Brazilian

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

FOREST HILLS (New York).

The Wimbledon title-holder, R. Laver, of Australia, recovered after losing the first two sets, to score a 6-8, 4-6, 6-4,6-4, 6-4 win over T. Koch (Brazil) in the second round of the United States open tennis championships.

The match between the top-seeded professional, rated the best in the world, and the unseeded South American—like Laver, a left-hander—kept a centrecourt gallery of 11,000 entranced for more than two hours.

Koch, aged 23, with sideburns falling to his chinbone and his dark hair flowing hippie-style down the back of his neck, outplayed the little Australian with a dazzling display of tennis through the first two sets. Only a remarkable recovery saved Laver from defeat. The two swapped rapierlike shots both from the back court and in close that were so quick and sharp the crowd could not follow them. Shook His Head

Magnificent service returns —low. angled shots that came off his racket like rifle shots —were Koch's best strokes in the first two sets. Laver frequently stopped in midcourt after an exchange and shook his head in disbelief. The seasoned Laver, winner of every major championship in the world, slugged his

way out of trouble with his high-kicking service and his remarkable top-spin backhand winners.

The decisive blows were delivered in the seventh game of the fifth set when Laver broke Koch's service with the loss of a single point. In an earlier match on the centre court, A. Ashe, the new American amateur champion, toyed with F. Parker, twice champion in the war years and now a Chicago teaching professional, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. J. Newcombe (Australia}, seeded No. 4, trounced R, Krishnan (India), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. R. Emerson, seeded fourteenth, beat S. Giammalva (United States), 10-8, 6-0, 6-3, and the 47-year-old P. Segura made it a nostalgic day by defeating I. Crookenden, the i New Zealander who now [teaches in Garrison, Maryland, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Women’s Singles In the women’s singles, Mrs A. Jones (Britain), the second seed, won easily. Mrs Jones, a professional, reached the third round of the singles by beating Miss P. Stewart (New York), 6-1, 6- The 19-year-old Miss P. Bartkowicz (United States) was too strong for Mrs J. Williams (Britain), winning’ 7- 6-2. Miss V. Wade (Britain) also reached the third round when she beat Miss P. Cody (United States), 6-3, 6-3. Miss J. Tegart (Australia), the Wimbledon runner-up, was too powerful for Miss F MacLennan (Scotland). C. Drysdale (South Africa) qualified to meet A. Stone (Australia) in the third round. Results: Men's Singles Second Round. —P. Segura <U.S.) beat I. Crookenden (New Zealand). 6-3 6-4 6-1: A. Ashe • N.S.) beat F. Parker (U.S.), 6-3 6-2. 6-2; A. Stone (Aust.) beat L. Gerrard (New Zealand),

6-4 9-7, 6-2: R. Emerson (Aust.) beat S. Giammalva (U.S.), 10-8, 6-0, 6-3: R. Taylor (Britain) beat T. Mazur (U.S.), 7-5. 6-3, 6-4: R. Laver (Aust.) beat T. Koch (Brazil). 6-8. 4-6, 6-4 6-4, 6-4; C Drysdale (South Africa) beat L. Ayala (Chile), 6-4, 8-10, 6-0, 6-3; P. Hutchins (Britain) beat H Rahim (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 2- 6-2: J. Newcombe (Aust.) beat R, Krishnan (India), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2: R. McKinley (U.S.) beat J Fillol (Chile) 3-6, 6-3. 6-4 6-2: E. Scott (U.S.) beat P Cornejo (Chile), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; C. McKinley (U.S.) beat V. Seixas (U.S.), 6-3. 6-3; T. Ulrich (Denmark) beat M. Riesen (U.S.) 3- 6-2, 6-3 6-2.

Women's Singles Second Round. —Miss P. Bartkowicz (U.S.) beat Mrs J. Wit liams (Britain). 7-5. 6-2; Mrs A. Jones (Britain) beat Miss P Stewart (U.S.), 6-1. 6-0; Miss R Casals (U.S.) beat Mrs B. Pratt (U.S.). 6-1, 6-1; Miss L. Tuero (U.S.) beat Miss K. Krantzache (Aust.) 6-4. 1-6, 7-5; Miss V Wade (Britain) beat Miss P Cody (U.S.), 6-3, 6-3; Miss J. Tegart (Aust.) beat Miss F. MacLennan (Scotland). 6-0. 6-2: Miss V. Rogers (U.S.) beat Miss L. Roussouw (South Africa) 11-9. 6-1.