Simpson holds on to beat big American

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 42

Simpson holds on to beat big American

NZPA London Russell Simpson, of NewZealand, thought of the folks back home to inspire him in his five-set marathon against the giant black American, Chip Hooper. While the two-metre tall Hooper, a conqueror of the Australian ace, Peter McNamara, in the first round, was hammering the ball and Simpson lunging and leaping to return it. the Aucklander said later, his inspiration to fight on came from thinking of New Zealand.

“People in New Zealand would like to read that I won so I said to myself: ‘Just hang on in there',” he said after his 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-7. 119, win. “Hanging on in there” meant holding his own service and then trying to break Hooper's, who sends the ball down at about 240km/h. “I didn’t see how I could break his service,” said the New Zealand Davis Cup player. “I wasn't hitting my ground strokes very well and I thought that over five sets I would be able to work out ghis game, but it didn’t work out that way as he went on changing. Simpson explained how he was able to tame the American’s awesome serve: “He was serving like a freight train so I stood up to receive it early as it climbs very fast. If I could get around the serve I has to return a winner because then I was so far out of court,” he said.

A subdued and dejected Hooper said three missed volleys had cost him the match: “It was disgusting — I find it difficult to play on grass because I have, not had enough experience of it. For all that you can't afford to miss opportunities.”

In the third round Simpson meets Marcus Hocevar, of Brazil This could be the year for the New Zealander, who has had tough draws in the last few years at Wimbledon.

In the last two years he has lost in the second and third rounds to Jimmy Connors: “It is a good draw for me this year,” he said. ‘Tm not going to meet either McEnroe or Connors in the early rounds and it is a good chance for me to do something.” The other New Zealanders due to play yesterday were again delayed by rain. Chris Lewis, Bruce Derlin and Chris Newton were scheduled to play their first round doubles games. Meanwhile, a number, of other singles were completed, and the titleholder, John McEnroe, became the first player to advance to the last 16 with an easy win against Lloyd Bourne, 6-2, 62, 6-0. McEnroe’s predicted opponent in the final, Jimmy Connors, had a far tougher battle before overcoming his compatriot, Drew Gltlin, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, 7-5, in a third-round match lasting just over three hours.

One men’s seed to suffer was the thirteenth ranked Brian Gottfried, who tumbled 7-6, 7-6. 6-7, 4-6, 1-6 to a fellow American, Nick Saviano.

Seeds to win were Gene Mayer, Roscoe Tanner, Brian Teacher (all United States) and Mark Edmondson (Australia).

The defending women’s champion, Chris Evert-Lloyd, wasted no time in sending a fellow American, Kath Latham, out of the tournament, winning 6-1, 6-1, in the feature women’s match.