Nastase beats Krick

Press, 7 September 1982, Page 6

Nastase beats Krick

NZPA New. York For years Ilie Nastase has been the man tennis crowds love to hate, his brilliant touch with the racket overshadowed by interminable clowning and boorish court behaviour. But yesterday, well past his tennis prime and down to ninetyseventh in the world rankings, the 36-year-old Rumanian became the unlikeliest of sentimental favourites at the United States Open tennis championships. He resoonded to an adoring gallery of about 15,000 at the national tennis centre by battling back to record one of the tournament's biggest upsets when he beat tenth-seeded Johan Kriek, of South Africa. 4-6. 7-6, -6-7. 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last 16. . In other, matches yesterday.

the top seed, John McEnroe, fourth seed Guillermo Vilas, of Argentina, and Eliot Teltscher. of the United States (eight), all went through to the fourth round. In the women's event, the second-seeded Chris Lloyd, aiming . for her sixth open crown, routed Kate Latham, of the United States, 6-2, 6-1. Lloyd has dropped only five games in three matches. Of the five other women seeds who advanced to the last 16 yesterday, only sixth-seeded Wendy Turnbull, of Australia, had to . struggle in defeating Claudia Kohde, of West Germany, 7-5. 5-7. 6-3. The Ameri-

cans. Andrea Jaeger. Kathy Rinaldi. Bonnie Gadusek. Zina Garrison, and amateur. Gretchen Rush, all went through in straight sets.