Tougher test for Connors

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 40

Tougher test for Connors

NZPA-Reuter New York With three easy victories under his belt, top-seeded Jimmy Connors is expected to face tougher opposition this morning when he plays fellow American, Vitas Gerulaitis, the lowest seeded (No. 16) player in men’s singles, at the United States open tennis championships. The 24-year-old Connors, the 1974 United States Open champion and losing finalist last year to Manuel Orantes, of Spain, has not lost a set in disposing of his first three opponents — Bob Hewitt (S.A.) and Americans Peter Fleming and Fred McNair—while advancing to the round of 16.

Gerulaitis, a 22-year-old New Yorker, has been almost as impressive while eliminating Americans Bruce Manson and Steve Krulavitz and Zeljko Franulivic (Yugoslavia). Other featured matches today have the women’s second seed, Evonne Cawley, of Australia, playing Frahcoise Durr, of France, and ninth men's seed Eddie Dibbs, of the United States, facing Colin Dowdeswell of Rhodesia. The Rhodesian upset eighth-seeded Raul Ramirez of Mexico, in the second round and Brian Fairlie (N.Z.) in the first.

All the seeded men’s players won yesterday, but two more women’s seeds were knocked out —number eight Olga Morozva, of Russia, and number seven, Kerry Melville Reid, of Australia. Mrs Reid, who injured an ankle on Saturday while playing 16-year-old Zenda Liess with the score 5-5 in the first set, defaulted the match yesterday. The successful men’s seeds yesterday were Bjorn Borg (Sweden, No. 2), Hie Nastase (Rumania, No. 5) and Orantes (No. 6). Borg beat John Lloyd, of •Britain, 6-3, 6-3. Nastase, on jhis best behaviour after some 1 temper tantrums in his p. -- ivious match, defeated Marty ißiesen (U.S.), 6-2, 7-5. and I Orantes was a 6-2, 6-4 win■ner over Allan Stone, of Australia.