Lewis forced to withdraw

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 28

Lewis forced to withdraw

NZPA Sydney I New Zealand's brilliant I young tennis star Chris ! Lewis dropped a bombshell by forfeiting his second ■ round match in the $175,000 Nabisco New South Wales Open at White City yesterday. Lewis, the No. 7 seed for the tournament, pulled out of his scheduled match : against Sherwood Stewart, iof the United States. I The 21-year-old New Zealander pulled ligaments in his right shoulder during his first round clash with Ismael ( El Shafei, of Egypt, last: Monday. Lewis had been having 'constant treatment for the ; injury over the previous 48 hours but advised tournament organisers yesterday •that he was unable to continue. The injury is a crushing blow for his hopes of breakling through for his first big (tournament win in Australia. I Lewis gave an impressive ! performance against El I Shafei winning the match 16-2 6-3 to emerge as a distinct threat for the title. ( The New Zealander is now (in grave doubt for the Aus-, (tralian Open which begins at I

Kooyong, Melbourne, next week. “My shoulder is extremely tender and at this stage I would have to rate myself 99 per cent certain to be a non-starter in the Australian Open,” said a bitterly disappointed Lewis yesterday. “I didn’t practise at all this morning in the hope that the injury might heal quickly, but it’s obvious I'm going to have to spend a lot longer on the side-line to i fully recuperate. “I’m really disappointed — 1 played so well last Monday 1 thought I had a big chance in this tournaiment,” Lewis said.