Lewis’s efforts Fleet St unanimous in praise gain him at least $76,000

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 36

Lewis’s efforts Fleet St unanimous in praise gain him at least $76,000

From

DIANA DEKKER,

NZPA staff correspondent London Chris Lewis stands to win at least £33,300 ($NZ76,590) even as the runner-up in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon.

The 26-year-old Aucklander is the first New Zealander since 1914 to go through to the final and the first unseeded finalist since 1967.

The winner of the final on the Centre Court between Lewis and the second seed, John McEnroe, takes the trophy and £66,660 (?NZ153,180). But it was not the money that was on Lewis’s mind after his arduous and exciting semi-final against the South African, Kevin Curren: “I went out there to play as best as I could and am thrilled to have won,” he said.

Lewis went on to the court as the rank outsider despite his first round success against the American No. 9 seed, Steve Denton. Curren had already caused the main upset of the tournament by eliminating the No. 1 seed and titleholder, Jimmy Connors, in four sets in the quarterfinals.

In that encounter Curren, who is resident in Texas, defeated Connors on his serve, chalking up 33 aces. Before the game it was generally considered that this serve would conquer Lewis as well, but many had noticed the quiet New Zealander making his way through the early rounds of the tournament defeating players who had often beaten him before and serving successfully against the best of them. He had decided after his rankings slipped last year to make an all-out effort for Wimbledon and the New

Zealand-Sweden Davis Cup tie which starts next weekend, and had concentrated on building up his stamina and streamlining his shots. It led to his playing the “best game of his life” against Curren on the Centre Court.

Both players got off to a slow start and it was not until the third set that the play climbed above the average and both players began diving for balls and chasing shots the less fit would only glance at.

Lewis, particularly, was tireless in his efforts to retrieve balls and plainly showed why he is by general consensus considered the fittest player at Wimbledon.

The beginning of the final set saw Curren breaking Lewis’s service and it looked as though the New Zealander would be courageous in defeat. But with Curren ahead three games to one Lewis found the necessary extra power and inspiration and came back to break the South African in the fifth game, holding service in the next game to even the scores.

Lewis’s opening came in the thirteenth game which also proved the most controversial. Curren was serving and was love-40 down when Lewis returned with a forehand which went to Curren’s right and was called out by the linesman. The umpire overruled the call and said the ball was good.

Curren afterwards said: “It was a most unusual time for an umpire to overrule a

linesman’s’call.” Lewis later agreed, as it had been a crucial shot, and said he understood why Curren had been upset. However, Lewis was now one game up and went on to hold service winning the game, set and match. Over 12,000 were at Centre Court including the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and they stood to applaud what some said was the “game of the tournament so far.”

“I am playing some of the best tennis I ever have and I will just go in there and give it all I’ve got,” said Lewis afterwards, looking ahead to the McEnroe encounter.

Lewis had never played singles on the Centre Court before and said he found the “atmosphere the greatest I have ever played in.”

When he left the court after the game he gave a special nod to the competitors’ box where the New Zealand Davis Cup squad coach, Tony Roche, was sitting.

“It was my thank you to Tony for all the help he has given me in helping me pick up my game,” Lewis said.

Roche, one of the finest volleyers in the sport, managed to combine Lewis’s incredible speed, stamina and reflexes better and it all paid off where it was supposed to — on grass.

Lewis, who dreamed as a four-year-old of winning Wimbledon, comes from a tennis family in Auckland.

~ in

London “Kiwi Turns to Summer Swallow,” “Unbelievable Chris,” and “Kiwi Shine Ko’s Curren,” the headlines in London’s Saturday papers trumpeted after Chris Lewis’s semi-finals triumph at Wimbledon. The total unexpectedness of the young New Zealander’s rise to the top was reflected in headlines such as the “Daily Express’s” banner: “McEnroe v. Who?” and the “Daily Mail’s” “Hail Mr Nobody.” Many of the papers devoted a whole page to Lewis’s upset win over the South African, Kevin Curren, described by the “Daily Telegraph” as “by far the finest and most exciting match of the championships.”

The Fleet Street papers were unanimous in their praise for the New Zealander’s win over the South African. “His was a great display of physical and mental courage . . .” wrote “Daily Mail” tennis writer, Laurie Pignon. And he commented: “Although McEnroe has beaten him twice and though no unseeded player has ever won the championships, Lewis will walk on to court tomorrow a hero, even if he leaves it as a beaten one.” Joe Melling in the Daily Express said: “There can be no doubting the absolute right of the 26-year-old from Auckland to be back out there on Centre Court tomorrow ...” “New Zealand unknown, Chris Lewis, emerged out of Wimbledon’s evening

shadows to plunder the most dramatic victory of the championships last night,” the “Sun” began its report. “The Times” called the match “an astonishing upset” and reported that “an ovation from the Centre Court crowd was a matter of course after the tall, square-shouldered Curren, who beat Jimmy Connors, the reigning champion on Monday, and the small, agile Lewis, had flung themselves this way and that in a thrilling match.”

The “Guardian” said the match had been “an astonishing demonstration of stamina, resilience and courage from two players giving their all to reach the goal which both had dreamed of since becoming professionals. “Lewis is ranked 91st in

the world. Theoretically he should have gone long ago,” the “Guardian” said.

“But his all-or-nothing brilliance, astonishing recoveries and iron determination carried him through to tomorrow’s decider against the No. 2 seed, McEnroe.”

Apache brave. The “Mirror,” under the heading “The Kiwi Cracker” said that Lewis had proved that reputations meant nothing as he. adopted a buccaneer approach to win his way into the contest with McEnroe.

The “Guardian” quoted Lewis as saying that it had been “an unbelievable thrill for me to come out on top in a match like that.” He had intended to try his hardest on every point and said that although he would be nervous about the final he thought he was capable of playing as well again after having a taste of the Centre Court atmosphere. Lewis, with his long hair kept out of his eyes by a headband, was variously described as looking “like a Kung Fu fighter” and an

Rex Bellamy, “The Times” tennis correspondent, said: “It seemed incredible that two players could work so hard and play each other for more than three hours. “This was one of those special, memorable Wimbledon occasions.” And he commented: “What a pity it was that either had to lose. But Curren has the game to reach the final some other day, whereas Lewis, one suspects, may never have a chance like this again.”