Decisive win for Borg

Press, 20 January 1981, Page 3

Decisive win for Borg

NZPA-Reuter New York Bjorn Borg, of Sweden, won his second consecutive Volvo Grand Prix Masters tennis championship at New York yesterday when he routed Ivan Lendl, of Czechoslovakia, o-4, 6-2, 6-2. The lanky, expressionless Lendl, the sensation of the 1980 men’s international circuit, had beaten Borg in their last two matches, and was the only player to hold two victories over the f i v e-time Wimbledon champion last year. But yesterday, although he played well, Lendl was unable to crack Borg’s defence with nis powerful ground strokes. Before a crowd of

more than 18,600 at Madison Square Garden, Borg proved too steady, too quick, and too effective on serve for Lendl. '

Borg’s great anticipation also was a key, factor in his triumph. Time and again he guessed right on would-be winners by Lendl, enabling him to return solid shots, and was uncanny in anticipating the young Czechoslovak’s movement on defence.

Borg also blunted Lendl’s powerful service With his returns. Lendl was able to record only one ace yesterday, Borg hit five aces and never lost his service, while breaking Lendl’s service five times.