Laver beaten on eve of Wimbledon

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 46

Laver beaten on eve of Wimbledon

(N.Z. Preti Association—Copyright?

LONDON. R. A. Laver was beaten in the Rothmans London grass«rrtt.iCjamp,ons^ps at Qu 66 ”’ 8 Club on the eve of the Wimbledon tennis championships—for which he is a firm favourite with bookmakers, players, and followers.

Laver, aged 32, was beaten, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, by the 25-year-old American economics graduate, T. Gorman, who first came to attention last year when he lost to K. R. Rosewall in the last 16 matches in both the Wimbledon and United States championships.

After more heavy rain, the quarter-final match was switched indoors on to a lightning-fast board court. Gorman relished the conditions and served magnificently to Laver, who earlier dropped a set in his thirdround match against Z. Franulovic (Jugoslavia), which was played on the grass centre court.

Laver served erratically, and surprisingly did not have the shots to combat the potency of the young American's game. Gorman served wide to Laver’s backhand, and also returned the Queenslander's service, with devastating effectiveness. It was only the second time they had met. At the Italian championships in Rome in May, Gorman lost 6-3 in the final set. NOT HAPPY

"Rod didn’t seem very happy on wood and didn’t play nearly as well as he can,” Gorman said. "My game is certainly suited to the wood surface.”

Laver worked hard to take the second set, but in the decider was blasted by Gorman, who served three aces in one forceful game. “I’m tired of playing on these fast surfaces,” Laver said. “I came here for grass court practice and ended up on boards. I’m probably better off being out of the tournament and resting.

“You have to play another style of game indoors, and I didn’t want drastically to change my game just four days before Wimbledon.” UNSETTLING Laver, who is the defending champion and No. 2 seed for the tournament, said it was unsettling not getting any grass court preparations for Wimbledon.

“I haven’t played on any good grass courts since Wimbledon last year. I’ve just had a three week lay-off, and

thought if I had three tournaments before Wimbledon I would be just right. But Bristol and now Queens have both been hit by bad weather.”

Gorman will now meet S. Smith (United States), who won his quarter-final, 6-4, 7-5, from his compatriat, M. Riessen, in the only singles match played on grass. The top seed, J. Newcombe, reached the semi-finals after an unexpected tough fight with the 19-year-old Brisbane Davis Cup player, R. Case. Newcombe, who again served and volleyed well, beat Case 6-2, 9-8. Case had two points for the second set at 6-5, and a further three during the tie-breaker. SEMI-FINALS Newcombe will now play the Melbourne left-hander, O. Davidson in the semi-final. Davidson, who served powerfully and volleyed crisply and accurately, defeated R. Emerson, 7-5, 6-3. Emerson could not adapt to the wood sur-

face and served 10 double faults.

Mrs M. Court, who is still slightly suffering from a chest virus, is the only Australian to reach the semifinals in the women’s singles. The Tasmanian, Miss H. Gourlay, worked tirelessly against Mrs B. J. King, but the power and accuracy of the American's game eventually wore thin her resistance and she was beaten, 6-4, 6-3. In the semi-finals, Mrs Court plays Miss R. Casals (US.), and Mrs King meets Miss V. Wade (Britain).