Weariness hits McEnroe, Lendl

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 6

Weariness hits McEnroe, Lendl

AAP correspondent ROBERT GRANT Melbourne The top seeds, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe, both betrayed a listless and weary frame of mind as each continued his campaign to capture his first Australian Open Tennis Championship yesterday. By contrast Mats Wilander, winner here for the past two years, was razor sharp as hp quietly buried the American, Leif Shiras, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, and swept into the fourth round. Both Lendl and McEnroe have conceded a set in their first two matches, and appear disillusioned and worried by the slippery grass courts. McEnroe won through to the fourth round yesterday with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, victory over the Nigerian, Nduka Odizor, while Lendl overcame last year’s semi finalist, Ben Testerman, 6-3,'1-6, 6-3, 6-2. While McEnroe and Lendl .were complaining 'about the condition of the court, Wilander was going about , his job with a minimum of fuss. He said later “I feel very good because the pressure (of the extra publicity) is on them.” Wilander served with accuracy and power yesterday and feels this is the key to his new confident attitude. “I feel much better this year,” he warned. Although admitting the centre court was very slippery, Wilander said it appeared no different to the past two years when he had taken out this title. Wilander next, meets the athletic American, Tim Wilkison, who yesterday ousted the No. 12 seed, Paul Annacone. - John McEnroe struggled through the opening set against Odizor — the match was studded with five successive breaks of serve — and then had to suffer an under arm service ace from the Nigerian in the second set. Trying to alter his tactics, McEnroe stood way back to receive serve and Odizor simply popped the ball over the net underarm to hold his own serve. "I half expected him to do it,” McEnroe said. He has already vented his anger on the court surface and yesterday said he found difficulty getting into the match. He is anything but confident Tm not even thinking about winning it I’m just faying to Win a few matches,” McEnroe said. He next faces the sometimes brilliant Frenchman Henri Leconte, with whom he has had several close and awkward encounters. Tha t United States Open lvan Lendl, frus--4-

trated by the speedy grass court, said after his ■ match: “They should call a company now and pour concrete overnight. . T ‘X’m going to try and hang on and if I don’t win I’ll just go on holidays earlier. “We’re tired and there are too many tournament requirements from the pro council. “I was working very hard for this, but I’m so disappointed with, the conditions," he said.. ' ' : ?

There will be a replay of one of the most historically important matches in tennis, after the Czech, Helena Sukova, won through to the quarter finals today by beating Amanda Dingwall, of New South Walesi, 6-3, 6-1. Sukova faces the Wimbledon champion, Martina Navrati- ‘ lova, who beat the Briton, Anne Hobbs, ; .by an identical score, in her next match. It was the’-,- tall blonde Sukova who last year stopped Navratilova from winning a ? calendar year Grand Slam, when she defeated her in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. But Navratilova said she was ready for their, rematch: “I know a lot more about ... Helena’s game than I did then — I know a lot-more what to”’ expect "There won’t be any lack of concentration or any underestimation. I’ll be really psyched up,” Navratilova said. She said her game would “move up a notch” against a player like Sukova, and added: I’ve never been better prepared for a grand slam tournament . _ ... “I’m in great shape and I’ve had plenty of match play.” The women’s tournament lost its N 0.4 seed yesterday when Sweden’s Caterina Lindqyist surprised the American’, Pam Shriver, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Shriver said she was let down by her serve, and thrown off balance by Lihdqvist’s “unbelievable” ground strokes. The women’s top seed, Chris Evert-Lloyd, of the United States, ended the comeback player, Dianne Balestrafs, hopes. After a close first set Evert-Lloyd ran away with the match against the Sydneysider, 6-4, 6-1. ’Meanwhile, the Czech, Hana Mandlikova, was too strong for Wendy Turnbull, winning 6-3, 6-4.

Two other Australians managed to take a set off their experienced opponents but bowed out of the tournament Queensland’s John Frawley started well against the Swedish star, Joakim Nystrom, before .losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, while the American, Tim Gullikson, beat the South Australian, Darren Cahill, 6-4, 6-3, 3-fci