Simpson upsets Lewis in dramatic match

Press, 16 January 1982, Page 56

Simpson upsets Lewis in dramatic match

PA Auckland Russell Simpson (Auckland) emerged from the shadow of his more illustrious Davis Cup team-mate, Chris Lewis, yesterday, beating him 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, to advance to the semi-finals of the international tennis Open men’s singles.

.The win in the Le Coq Sportif men's singles of the Benson and Hedges Open means a cheque of at least $9048, with the prospect of earning the champion's pay of $17,400.

In the 9Uminute contest he dominated the first set to prevent Lewis from coming anywhere near getting his game together. Simpson rarely missed a first serve and broke his opponent’s service in the second and sixth games to win the first set with amazing ease at 6-1.

It looked a one-sided match, with the top seed being given a tennis lesson by the eighth seed. Simpson began the second set in the

same vein as the first, breaking Lewis’s service in the first game. Then for the first time in the match. Lewis served with venom in the third game of the second set to hold service to love. A critical fourth

game in which Simpson saved three break points without being able to save a fifth gave Lewis the break back to equalise in games. A saved net cord which Lewis returned for a winner

gave him his second break of the set in the sixth game and he was to break again in the eighth game for the set. The third set was an amazing one. with Simpson breaking strings in his rackets on two occasions and Lewis once. Not once in the game did Lewis hit a first

service in and it was this failure to capitalise on his more powerful first service which contributed much to his downfall.

It was a most popular victory for Simpson, although a most unexpected one. Lewis took his defeat exceptionally well, although he left the stadium almost immediately after being given a rub down by his masseur.

Mr John Wilson, who also worked on Lewis's ankles.

This morning. Simpson will play the first of the semi-finals against Robert Van't Hof (United States), who has been a practice partner for Simpson in Los Angeles.

Van't Hof beat his fellow countryman. Matt Mitchell, in a long but sedate baseline duel. 7-6. 6-7, 6-3. The first tiebreaker was won 8-6 and the second 7-3. In the second semi-final. Tim Wilkison (United States),, seeded second, will clash with Chris Mayotte (United States), who yesterday fought back from the one set down against another American, Lloyd Bourne, to win. 2-6, 63. 6-1. Wilkison comfortably took the quarter-final against Larry Stefanki (United States). 6-3, 6-4. Onny Parun and Russell Simpson lost the opportunity of a possible. all-New Zea-

land doubles final when they bowed out to the American pair. Chris Dunk and Martin Davis.

In the thrilling third set. notable for volleying duels at the net. the New Zealanders lost the tiebreaker 7-5 and the match 6-3. 4-6. 6-7. Dunk and Davis will meet Stefanki and Van’t Hof in the second semi-final. Results: Le Coq Sportif men's singles.— Quarter-finals: R. J. Simpson (N.Z.) beat C. J. Lewis (N.Z.). 6-1. 2-6. 6-4: R. Van't Hof (U.S.) beat M. Mitehell (U.S.). 7-6. 6-7. 6-3; T. Wilkison (U.S.) beat L. Stefanki (U.S.). 6t3. 6-4.

Le Coq Sportif men's doubles.—Quarter-finals: B. Derlin and J. G. Simpson (N.Z.) beat J. Delaney and R. Hightower (U.S.). 7-6. 3-6. 6-4; A. Jarrett and J. Smith (U.K.) beat S. Krulevitz and C. Mayotte (U.S.). 6-2. 6-4; C. Dunk and M. Davis (U.S.) beat R. J. Simpson and O. Parun (N.Z.). 3-6. 6-4. 7-6.