Open win removes Lendl’s ‘loser’ tag

Press, 10 September 1985, Page 44

Open win removes Lendl’s ‘loser’ tag

NZPA-AP New York After winning the United States Open tennis men’s singles title yesterday, Ivan Lendl’s first words were: “I’m just so happy that I’m not even going to try to describe it.”

Even John McEnroe, who was denied his second straight and fifth career Open championship, agreed. “I suppose that it’s more fitting that he won it, because he hadn’t won it before,” McEnroe said after his 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 6-4 loss. The thrashing of McEnroe convincingly destroyed the label of loser that has haunted Lendl, of Czechoslovakia, who lost in the finals the three previous years. A loss to McEnroe would have tied the U.S. Open record of four consecutive final defeats, set by William M. Johnston in losing to Bill Tilden from 1922-25. Lendl’s win made it an all Czech affair after Hana Mandlikova toppled Martina Navratilova in the women’s final. It was not the best of tournaments for Martina. Teaming with her regular partner, Pam Shriver, the

top seeds lost the women’s doubles final to Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (West Germany), and Helena Sukova (Czechoslavakia), 6-7 (5-7), 62, 3-6. Navratilova final broke through the winning list alongside Switzerland’s Heinz Gunthardt to take the mixed doubles over the Australian pair, John Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Smylie, 6-3, 64. For Lendl, it was only his second Grand Slam title in eight finals. He previously won the 1984 French Open — beating McEnroe. “I just took a different approach to this year’s Open than ever before,” Lendl said. “I tried to lead a normal life, and try to do everything like I would do every other day, and just go for my matches. “I went to a couple of

aerobic classes. I went to play golf. I played with my dogs — anything. “I just tried to keep myself relaxed that way.” He said the fact attention was focused on McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Boris Becker also helped. “Not too many people expected me to win,” Lendl said. Before the match, Lendl was ranked No. 2 in the world, behind McEnroe. Now he is No. 1.

Results:— Men’s singles: Ivan Lendl (2, Czechoslovakia), beat John McEnroe (1, U.S.A.) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 6-4. Women’s doubles: Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (2, West Germany) and Helena Sukova (2, Czechoslovakia) beat Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (1, U.S.A.) 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3. Mixed doubles: Martina Navratilova (1, U.S.A.) and Heinz Gunthardt (1, Switzerland) beat Elizabeth Smylie and John Fitzgerald (2, Australia) 6-3, 6-4.