Lloyd defeats ‘bogy opponent’

Press, 2 July 1986, Page 68

Lloyd defeats ‘bogy opponent’

NZPA-Reuter London Chris Evert Lloyd has defeated her “bogy opponent” Kathy Jordan and today faces another serve and volley expert in Czechoslovakia’s Helen Sukova. Lloyd gave her fans a fright yesterday when she slumped to 1-5 down in her fourth-round clash with Jordan, the compatriot who knocked her out of Wimbledon in 1983. But she recovered well to win 7-5, 6-2, and now the holder of a record 146 titles is hungry to take on Sukova, who has dropped just 13 games in four matches here, in the quar-ter-finals. That is the best record

in the women’s tournament so far and even though Lloyd has beaten her 12 times out of 12 in the past she is wary. “Helen’s not had any real tough matches. That means she is playing very well. She’s just the same type of player as Kathy, aggressive with a big serve and volley. I’m going to have to return well.” When it comes to sheer power, the big star of the tournament so far has been the Australian, Pat Cash, who just one month after having his appendix out has swept into the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Cash, who iteeds a

police escort to get through crowds of screaming teenage fans, brought the tournament alive yesterday with a thrilling three-hour victory over the No. 2 seed, Mats Wilander, of Sweden. Lloyd has a far tougher draw than the reigning champion, Martina Navratilova, who should have little trouble beating the unseeded West German, Bettina Bunge. In the other quarterfinals, a Czechoslovak, Hana Mandlikova, should eliminate an American, Lori McNeil, while Gabriela Sabatini, of Argentina, is favoured to topple Sweden’s Catarina

Lindqvist. After Cash’s win, reporters were eager to know what his preparation was over the weekend. Cash, whose Norwegian girlfriend gave birth to their son at the end of May, said: "I did absolutely nothing. I went out of the house twice to get nappies and I got the wrong size.” Boris Becker, who became Wimbledon’s youngest winner last year, avenged a French Open defeat by Sweden’s Mikael Pemfors, telling reporters afterwards: “It was one of my best matches in terms of con-

centration." But he did give a glimpse of how intense the glare of publicity can be. Running his fingers through his hair and letting out a heartfelt sigh, he said: “It has been a lot of pressure. Nobody can believe how much it is.” As dusk settled on Centre Court last night after an actionpacked day, the No. 1 seed, Ivan Lendl, was level-pegging one set all against an American, Matt Anger. It was the only fourth round match not completed and Lendl appealed constantly against the bad light, finajly having his pleas heais- at 2-2

in the third set. Julie Richardson, of Auckland, and her partner, Anna Maria Fernandez; slumped to a dismal straight sets loss in the third round of the doubles yesterday. Richardson and Fernandez (U.S.) were beaten 62, 7-6, by a Canadian, Jill Hetherington, and an American, Patty Fendick, in a 67-minute match which never really came alive. But New Zealand’s Brett Steven had a better match, opening his bid to win the junior title with a crushing 6-2, 6-1, win over a South African, Stefan van Schalkwyk.