Tennis drubbings

Press, 3 September 1981, Page 28

Tennis drubbings

NZPA-Reuter New York Jimmy Connors, gunning for his fourth U.S. Open title, crushed Britain’s John Lloyd, and Tracy Austin bidding for her second U.S. crown, routed Anne Hobbs, of Britain, yesterday in the opening round of the U.S. Open tennis title. The fourth-seeded Connors, the only player to win the Open title on three different surfaces—grass, compositionclay and asphalt—drubbed Lloyd, 6-0, 6-0, 6-2, while the third-seeded Austin cruised past Hobbs, 6-1, 6-2. In the tournament’s first upset, Anne Smith, of Dallas, who is ranked twenty-first in the world, eliminated the sixteenth seed, Dianne Fromholtz, of Australia, 6-3, 6-3. Another seeded Australian, Wendy Turnbull, the No. 7

seed, battled back to beat the 17-year-old Zina Garrison (U.S.), one of the few black players on the women’s circuit, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Besides Connors, the third seed, Ivan Lendl, of Czechoslovakia, also gained the second round on the men’s side when he ousted Hans Simmonsson, of Sweden, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. Others who advanced included Tom Gullikson (U.S.), the Australians, Mark Edmondson and Peter McNamara, and Dick Stockton (U.S.). Bjorn Borg, seeded second behind the defending champion, John McEnroe, and the top seed, Chris Evert Lloyd, seeking her sixth Open title, play their opening round matches today. Borg faces a Swiss Davis Cup player, Marcus Gunthardt, while Mrs Lloyd meets Kathrin Keil (U.S.).