Outsider runs Parun close

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 38

Outsider runs Parun close

PA Wellington An unseeded Dunedin part-timer, Grahame Liddell, yesterday came close to upsetting the tournament favourite, Onny Parun, in a second round match at the BP national tennis championships in Wellington. Parun won 6-4. 6-7, 9-7. but only after Lidden aged 21 had two break points on Parun’s '■ serve in the third set. Had Liddell won either of the crucial points he would: have taken a 65 lead in the decider. ; Liddell had only modest success on the Air New Zealand satellite circuit only once passing the first round but he had won the Southland Nelson and Manawatu titles and reached the semifinals in Otago. .< And in last week’s Wellington championships he had given a hint he might be capable of something special in the nationals. Partnered by Canterbury’s Sally Chapman, the left-hander, won the mixed doubles and reached the final of the men’s doubles.

Yesterday Parun had to call on all his experience and grit to win. “He, played really well,” said Parun, “I had to play well otherwise I would have been out.” Liddell said he was pleased with his performance: “It would have been good to have beaten sometone of Onny’s standing.” Liddell dropped his serve at 4-4 in the first set and that was sufficient for Parun to take the opener but the Dundein player caused a stir in the second when he broke Parun for a 3-1 lead. Parun broke back immediately, however, and the set went with service to 6-6 and into a tie-breaker. Liddell raced to a 5-0 lead and eventually won 7-3 to square the match.The third set went with service until the sixteenth game although Liddell had given Parun a fright in the

twelfth when he wasted the two breaks. In the sixteenth Parun had two match points with his challenger down. 15-40, and he sighed with relief as Liddell netted to give him the match and a place in the final 16. The women’s No. 2 seed Linda Stewart of Auckland was given a fright by the 15-year-o!d Belinda Cordwell, of Wellington. The youngster took the first set 6-4, but lost the next two 2-6, 4-6.

I Peter Hampton of Northland defaulted by officials on Monday after a dispute over fresh balls changed his mind yesterday about not continuing in the tournament. He agreed to play in the doubles and will partner David Mustard. , Men’s singles.—Second round: O. Parun (Wellington) beat G. Liddell (Otago), 6-4, 6-7, 9-7: J. Dickinson (Waikato) beat C. Coleman- (U.S.), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; G. Davjs (U.S.) beat C. Tregonning (Aust.), 6-3, 7-5; T. Lundy (U.S.) beat H ■ Seki (Japan), 6-2, 8-2. D. Mustard (Auck.) beat D. Jones (U.S.), 6-1, 6-2; S. Temple (Auck.) beat J. Stephan (Auck.), 6-4, 6-1; T. Toh--111 (Hutt Valley) beat J. Gray (Aust.), 6-0, 6-2; M. Lewis (Auck.) beat B. Mason (Canty), 6-2, 6-3. M. Friedman (U.S.) beat G. Callender (Well.), 6-4, 6-1; K. Barton (Aust.) beat K. Turner (Aust.), 6-2, 7-6; D. Lewis (Auck.) beat D. Patterson (Well.), 3-6, 7-6, 6-4; M. Elley (Auck.) beat S. Dean (Auck.) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; A. Chapman (Canty) beat C. Stalder (U.S.) by default. J. Dunphy (H.V.) beat N. Carter (Well.), 6-2. 6-1; C. Harris (Auck.) beat B. Hibbert (Canty) by default; B. Derlin (Auck.) beat P. McEriain- (Well.), 6-1, 6-3. Women’s singles.—Second round: C. Newton (Canty) beat M. Williams (U.S.), 6-1, 6-1; J. Reardon (Britain) beat C. Beasley (Well.), 6-1, 6-3; R. Hunt' (Canty) beat M. Parun (H.V.), 6-1, 6-1; J. Perkinson (Auck.) beat F. Oakley (Auck.), 6-1, 6-0; S. Boyer (Auck.) beat J. Hibbert (Canty), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4. S. Chapman (Canty) beat L. Meachen (H.V.), 6-3, 64); R. Seeman (Otago) beat J. Howe (Canty), 6-2, 6-0; L. Stewart (Auck.) beat B. Cordwell (Well.), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Men’s doubles.—First round: Callender and McEriain beat A. Black (Aust.) and M. Warmington (Kapi-Mana), 6-3, 6-3; J. O’Malley (Otago) and Seki beat Gray and Turner, 6-3, 6-4; D. Lewis and R. Dutton (Auck.) beat J. Grub! and G. Patterson (Well.), 6-4, 6-2; Coleman end J. Dutton (Auck.) beat K. Hasleberger and H. Scholl hammer (West Germany), 6-1, 6-0.