Heated argument halts tennis match

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 20

Heated argument halts tennis match

By

JOHN BROOKS

The tensions attending a major tennis tournament erupted at Wilding Park yesterday when four leading players had an eyeball-to eyeball confrontation over a disputed score in a doubles match. The men who vigorously questioned each other's mathematical ability were the New r Zealand left-hand-ers. David Mustard and Bruce Derlin. and turn American right-handers. Rand Evett and - Rocky Vazquez. The heated argument halted the match or 23 minutes before the fourthseeded pair of Mustard and Evett won in three sets. At one state a player-spectator called out: "Hey — there’s

going to be a punch-up." and the tennis suddenly got its biggest gallery of the day as other players rushed to take vantage points. Derlin and Mustard are seeded to meet each other in the singles final, and it should be a volatile affair, judging by yesterday’s blowup and a previous clash between the two in the Canterbury singles championship of last season. The two Auckland players will be joined in the singles quarter-finals by two other New Zealanders. Jeff Simpson and Davis Lewis, as well as Evett and three Australians, Wesley Horskins. John McCurdy and Ken Barton. The latter three all beat higher ranked opponents in yesterday's round.

But it was the big doubles match which captured prime attention, as Derlin and Vazquez claimed they were up, 1-0, in the third set and their rivals said they weren't. Touring profes’sionals said their money was on the Derlin-Vazquez duo if things got out of hand because Rocky's father was once an American kick-box-ing champion. Rocky Marciano. “There's no need to watch the tennis — just look at this," called out the Canadian, Nick Mohtadi. gesturing towards the argumentative group. But the laugh was on Mohtadi. for Mustard subsequently asked him to mount the umpire's chair and keep the score. “Man. I gotta eat," replied

the Canadian, clasping a bottle of Coke and-a chocolate bar. “That's all right." said Mustard, “you can eat and count at the same time." Mohtadi ascended his perch, and immediately did his best to ease the tension by asking with wide-eyed Innocence: “Now, what's the score?” Vazquez, who had grown cold in the long debate, despite wearing long trousers, resumed the match by dropping his serve in a game in which he took exception to Mustard's grin. The big American dented a can with his racket as he changed ends, as well he might, for that proved to be the only service break of the third set.

At one stage in the second set, when things were going well for them. Derlin and Vazquez slapped hands whenever one of them hit a winner. By the end. however, Vazquez was complaining that he was playing “like a baggage." Derlin had happier fortunes in the singles, in which he disposed of another lefthander, Stefan Reich (Germany) in quick time. Mustard also played well to eliminate the blond David Graham (Australia). Results were.— SINGLES Third round B. Derlin I N.Z.) beat S. Reich (Ger.). 6-1. 6-4: W. Horskins (A) beat M. Darby (U.S.). 7-6. 7-6; J. Simpson (N.Z.) beat R. Grant (A). 6-3. 6-4: R. Evett (U.S.) beat J. t

Schneider (A). 7-6. 6-2: D Lewis 'NZ) beat M. Holland (G. 8. 3-6. 6-2. 6-0: J. McCurdv (A) beat W. Maher (A). 6-4. 3-6. 6-2: K. Barton (A) beat N. Mohtadi (C). 7-6. 2-6. 6-4: D. Mustard (N.Z.) beat D. Graham (A). 6-4. 6-4. DOUBLES Second round Simpson and J. Dilouie (U.S.) beat S. Bale and N. Fulwood (G. 8. 6-1. 6-0: B. McQuoun and G. Farmer (U.S.), beat R. Crames and B. Siegel (U.S.). 6-4. 7-5; Mohtadi and P. O'Donoghue (C) beat A. Cook and A. Morcos (A). 6- 6-4: P. Lyons and T. Bennett (U.S.) beat Maher and McCurdy, 7- 6-4: Graham and L. Warder (A) beat M. Wagner (U.S.) and B. Millar (C>. 6-3. 6-4; Grant and S. Maloney (A) beat P. Gaff and C. Tyzzer (A). 6-2. 6-1; Mustard and Evett beat Derlin and Vazquez. ,6-2, 3-6. 6-4: Holland and J. Stoddart beat D. Metz and E. Sherbeck (U.S.). 6-7. 6-3. 6-1.