McEnroe’s tantrums overshadow upsets

Press, 24 June 1981, Page 40

McEnroe’s tantrums overshadow upsets

NZPA-Reuter London Three seeds were beaten during a surprising first day of upsets at the Wimbledon tennis championships yesterday, but even the achievements of the underdogs were overshadowed by the tantrums of the American star, John McEnroe.

Ivan Lendl, of Czechoslovakia, the fastest-rising player in the world over the last year and seeded fourth at Wimbledon, was the biggest name to fall. He was beaten 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, bv an Australian. Charlie Fancutt, a qualifier who is ranked only one hundred and ninety fourth in the world. The ninth seed, Victor Pecci, of Paraguay, crashed 6-7. 0-6. 0-6, in a woeful display against an American, Bill Scanlon, while another American outsider, Eric Fromm, eliminated the No. 13 seed, Yannick Noah, of France. 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

The top seed, Bjorng Borg, of Sweden, came through 7-6, 6-3, 6-1, against an American, Peter Rennet, and McEnroe, seeded second and considered by many to have a strong chance of succeeding Borg as champion this year, beat his compatriot, Tom Gullikson, 7-6. 7-5, 6-3.

But McEnroe’s deportment while doing so left much to be desired, though the vola-

tile American was thoroughly contrite afterwards.

He had several loud altercations with the umpire in the first two sets and in the third set he was penalised a point for something he said to the umpire. At the end of the game, which he won, he demanded that the referee, Fred Hoyles, be summoned.

Whatever he said to Hoyles earned him another penalty point. “What I said to the umpire was ‘this is the pits’ because things were so ridiculous out there,” McEnroe said later, “but I didn’t think I should be penalised for. just saying that, and when the referee came on. what I said to him I don't think you can print. But it wasn’t obscene.

“I suppose it was my fault, but I was very jittery today. I feel the umpire did a lousy job, but it shouldn't have prompted what I did. “I don’t go out there speci-. fically to shout at umpires and linesmen. I'm worried by

the way I act. I’kriow it's bad and I'm just hurting myself.” McEnroe added: "But I felt I was justified in calling the linesman an incompetent fool. If I am incompetent I expect to be told so. “I think officials should be paid more and I'd even give a $lOOO a year if it could guarantee efficiency, but I know it's a thankless job. I'd be the last guy in the world to be an umpire, especially with guys like me around." In between his outbursts McEnroe played some beautiful tennis, gradually coming to grips with the situation and earning himself a second round match against the Mexican. Raul Ramirez. Borg's next rival is an American, Mel Purcell.

■ Two big servers who came through were the South African, Kevin Curren, and an American, Victor Amaya. These two may clash in the third round for a match against Borg, although Curren will have to beat the

American sixteenth seed, Vitas Gerulaitis, first. The third seed. Jimmy Connors (U.S.), easily beat his compatriot Dick Stockton, 61, 6-2. 6-4. The sixth, seventh and eighth seeds, Americans, Brian Teacher. Brian Gottfried and Roscoe Tanner, all won easily. Among the first round losers was Shlomo Glickstein, of Israel, who upset Ramirez last year before bowing to Borg. One seed expected to come under seige, the No. .10, Guillermo Vilas, of Argentina, had his match against the Australian, Mark Edmondson, held over until today.

Vilas's compatriot, JoseLuis Clerc, the Italian champion, who is seeded ninths was forced to five sets by a qualifier, Alvaro Fillol, of Chile, taking the deciding set 9-7 after having match point against him.

The women's singles and men's doubles start today.