Connors, Tanner to meet?

Press, 18 June 1976, Page 24

Connors, Tanner to meet?

NZPA-Reuter London Americans Jimmy Connors and Roscoe Tanner, big-hit-ting rivals for the Wimbledon men’s tennis title, look destined for a quarter-final clash in the famous grass court championships which start on Monday. Both are in' the toughest section of the draw, which was made yesterday. Connors, favourite for the title, is due for a possible clash with another former champion in Stan Smith, also of the United States. Tanner has his eleventh-

seeded compatriot, Eddie Dibbs, more noted for his hard-court play, standing in his quarter. Last year Connors, the second seed, beat seventhseeded Tanner in straight sets in the semi-finals but last Saturday Tanner showed how sharp his grass court game is at present by reversing that result in the final of the international tournament at Beckenham. Whoever reaches the semi-finals from the bottom of the draw is almost certain to find Bjorn Borg of Sweden awaiting him. Borg has fallen short of ex-

pectations at Wimbledon but this year he may be better prepared for two weeks’ hard labour on grass. For the defending champion, Arthur Ashe, of the United States, there are fewer pitfalls on the road to the £12,500 men’s top prize. He starts with a’ clash against fifty-seventh ranked compatriot Ferdi Taygan and the first seeded player he is due to meet, Czechoslovakia’s Jan Kodes, has withdrawn through injury.

A former title-holder, John Newcombe of Australia, the tenth seed, looks to have one of the easier sections of the draw while Raul Ramirez, the Mexican eighth

seed, is another who opens against a qualifier. Lesley Hunt, of Australia, looks the main threat in the early stages to Chris Evert, of Florida, top seed for the women’s title. Two years ago Miss Hunt lost 11-9 in the third set in her first round match against Miss Evert, who was then seeded second. Evonne Cawley, the second seed, is reported to have a tendon injury and will have no competitive grass court practice before the championships begin but should still be good enough to take her appointed place in the semi-finals against Britain’s Virginia Wade.