McEnroe almost lost for words

Press, 5 July 1985, Page 32

McEnroe almost lost for words

NZPA-Reuter London The sad, weary words of John McEnroe after his two-year reign as king of Wimbledon came to an end yesterday were: “I felt real old out there.” Even McEnroe himself found it difficult to pinpoint the reason for his scarcely believable 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 quar-ter-final defeat by American Kevin Curren. “Everything seemed speeded up, I didn’t expect things to happen so quickly ... but there are five or six reasons, you can’t narrow it down to just one.” Physically, the 1981, 1983 and 1984 champion looked the McEnroe of old — pouting, muttering and generally giving the appearance of a man who feels the entire world is against him. It is that very sense of paranoia which usually lifts McEnroe to heights no other player in history has reached. But yesterday it left him listless, subdued and easy prey to Curren’s ferocious power. Although only 26, it is easy to see why McEnroe feels twice his age, for he has been the most talked about and misunderstood player in tennis since he reached the semifinals at Wimbledon unseeded as an 18-year-old in 1977. Whatever the reasons for McEnroe’s defeat, his departure has presented the four semi-finalists with a wonderful opportunity. The bookmakers’ favourite is 17-year-old West German Boris Becker beat Frenchman, Henri Leconte, in four sets. Defending women’s champion, Martina Navratilova, and Chris Evert Lloyd move towards their almost predestined meeting in tomorrow’s final. Navratilova is chasing her fourth successive title and her sixth in eight years. Losses for Chris Lewis and Kelly Evernden have ended the involvement of New Zealand men at this year’s Wimbledon. Lewis continued his sequence of a good match, then a bad one, with a largely uninspired performance in the second round of the doubles.

Playing with Australian Brad Drewett, Lewis lost 57, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6 to Briton, John Lloyd, and Indian, Vijay Amritraj. Evernden, on the other hand, played with amazing energy throughout his first visit to Wimbledon. Playing with South African, Michael Robertson, against American twins, Tom and Tim Gullikson, for a place in the quarter-finals, he continued to hit the ball as though he bore it some deep-seated grudge. The stocky Gulliksons were often left flat-footed by Evernden’s powerful shots. But when the points were vital, more often than not they managed to connect. Evernden and Robertson had chances, but the Wisconsin twins have been around a long time and know when to put their heads down. It was their understanding of each other and their ability to stay cool, on a hot day that gave them the match 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. The good news for New Zealand was the performance of Julie Richardson in the junior event. The Auckland 18-year-old played aggressively to oust the fourth seed, Janine Thompson, of Australia, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the first round. The short and stocky Thompson is highly regarded by Australians and a world senior ranking of around 100 — more than twice that of Richardson — shows their faith in her is not without foundation. Results were (x denotes seeded players):— Men’s singles, quarter finals: (x) Kevin Curren (U.S.) beat (x) John McEnroe (U.S.), 6-2, 6-2, 6- (x) Anders Jarryd (Sweden) beat Heinz Gunthardt (Switzerland), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2; (x) Jimmy Connors (U.S.) beat Ricardo Acuna (Chile), 6-1, 7-6, 6-2; Boris Becker (West Germany) beat Henri Leconte (France), 7- 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Women’s singles, quarter finals.— (x) Martina Navratilova (U.S.) beat (x) Pam Shriver (U.S.), 7-6, 6-3; (x) Kathy Rinaldi (U.S.) beat (x) Helena Sukova (Czechoslovakia), 6-1, 1-6, 6-1; (x) Zina Garrison (U.S.) beat Molly van Nostrand (U.S.), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0; (x) Chris Evert-Lloyd (U.S.) beat Barbara Potter (U.S.), 6-2, 6-1.

Men’s doubles, round two.— Vijay Amritraj (India)-John Lloyd (Britain) beat Brad Drewett (Australia)-Chris Lewis (N.Z.), 7-5, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. Round three: Peter McNamara (Australia)-Paul McNamee (Australia) beat Mike Depalmer (U.S.)-Bruce Manson (U.S.), 6-3, 7-5, 6-4; Pat Cash (Australia)-John Fitzgerald (Australia) beat Steve Meister (U.S.)-Eliot Teltscher (U.S.), 6-4, 6-3, 6-4; Eddie Edwards (South Africa)-Buzz Strode (U.S.) beat Larry Stefanki (U.S.)-Robert Van’t Hof (U.S.), 7-6, 5-7, 6-3, 75; Paul Annacone (U.S.)-Christo van Rensburg (South Africa) beat Brian Levine (South Africa)-Eric Van’t Hof (U.S.), 76, 6-1, 7-6; Peter Fleming (U.S.)-John McEnroe (U.S.) beat Bud Cox (U.S.)-Andy Kohlberg (U.S.), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Tim Gullikson (U.S.)-Tom Gullikson (U.S.) beat Kelly Evernden (N.Z.)Michael Robertson (South Africa), 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. Women’s doubles, round three.— Kathy Jordan (U.S.)Elizabeth Smylie (Australia) beat Claudia Monteiro (Brazil)Yvonne Vermaak (South Africa), 6-1, 6-0; Virginia Ruzici (Romania)-Andrea Temesvari (Hungary) beat Pascale Paradis (France)Catherine Tanvier (France), 06, 6-4, 6-4; Svetlana Cherneva (U.S.S.R.)-Larissa Savchenko (U.S.S.R.) beat Isabella Demongeot (France)-Nathalie Tauziat (France), 4-6, 7-6, 6-2; Hana Mandlikova (Czecho-slovakia)-Wendy Turnbull (Australia) beat Elise Burgin (U.S.)Alycia Moulton (U.S.), 6-1, 6-2; Martina Navratilova (U.S.)Pam Shriver (U.S.) beat Terry Holladay (U.S.)-Mima Jausovec (Yugoslavia), 6-0, 6-3; Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (West Germany)Helena Sukova (Czechoslovakia) beat Betsy Nagelsen (U.S.)-Anne White (U.S.), 7-6, 6-