Cash calm before clash with Lendl

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 40

Cash calm before clash with Lendl

NZPA London There’s a chink in Ivan Lendl’s armour and Pat Cash will be searching for it today. When Lendl dropped a set in his match against the little known Swiss, Jacob Hlasek, on Sunday, Cash’s hopes must have risen. Outwardly Cash, who in looks and manner appears older than his 18 years, does not show much emotion: “I’m not worried at all,” he replied when asked his feelings on the impending fourth round Wimbledon tennis clash with the super Czech. “I’ve improved 100 per cent since I won the U.S. and Wimbledon juniors last year,” he said. As for Lendl, he has greatly improved his grass court play — some of that can be put down to the videos he has been studying of John Newcombe matches. He has transferred his powerful hard court play to grass with a touch of serve and volley, but he still has lapses of concentration which Cash could capitalise on.

The two have never met on court before, although Lendl admits to having watched Cash play several times: “I know he has a good return and can serve and volley,” he understated. In the women’s singles Wendy Turnbull will be striving to break the hoodoo her next opponent, Billie Jean King, has over her. The Australian has won only once in their last 11 encounters. Today’s match will be a repeat of last year when the two met in the fourth round with Mrs King running out an easy 6-2, 6-3, winner. The No. 1 seed and titleholder, Martina Navratilova, meets the sixteenth seed, Claudia Kohde, aged 20, of West Germany, who handed Miss Navratilova a rare first round beating at the 1981 Avon championships at Oakland. “Now that Chris Lloyd is out everyone believes that I have only to go out and play to win Wimbledon again, but there are still plenty of people out there for me to beat,” said Miss Navratilova.