Noah knocked out of U.S. Open

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 36

Noah knocked out of U.S. Open

NZPA-Reuter New York the unseeded American, Tim Wilkison, interrupted an orderly procession of seeded players into the fourth round of the US Open yesterday by upsetting the fifth seed, Yannick Noah, in an emotional five-set match.

surprise of the fifth day session which saw the top seeds, Ivan Lendl and Martina Navratilova lead the charge into the round of 16.

“It was pretty spectacular,” said an excited Wilkison after his dramatic comeback victory. “I’ve had pretty good wins but the situation here is different — the US Open and myself being an American. In night matches, the sixth-seeded Pam Shriver defeated a fellow American, Elise Burgin, in a Close three-set match, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Shriver dropped service once in the one hour and 44 minute match against an opponent from

Wilkison, known on the tour as “Dr Dirt” for his gritty, all-out style of play, toppled the favoured Frenchman, 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, in a three-hour 19-minute match that drew a standing ovation from the stadium court crowd. The win for Wilkison, a 26-year-old left-hander ranked thirty-first in the world, was the big

her home state of Maryland against whom she has been competing since she was eight years old. In the men’s singles the fifteenth-seeded American Brad Gilbert easily dismissed a fellow American Johan Kriek 62, 7-5, 6-2. Other men’s seeds to advance included the No. 4 Stefan Edberg of Sweden, and the eighthseeded Henri Leconte of France, while nonseeds Aaron Krickstein and Dan Goldie of the United State, and a Russian, Andrei Chesnokov were also winners. On the women’s side, the No. 3 seed, Steffi

Graf of West Germany, the Americans, Bonnie Gadusek (8), Stephanie Rehe (13) and Kathy Jordan (IS), and Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina (11) also advanced. Wilkison and Noah, much admired for his brilliant athletic ability, gave the National Tennis Centre crowd the most entertaining match of the tournament so far. Lunging volleys, leaping overheads and miraculous retrievals by both players brought a special excitement to their thirdround encounter. At one point in the fourth set, after Wilkison had managed to dig up a self-defence volley

winner while still prone grab a double breakpoint on the court after a div- at 15-46. Another Noah, ing save, Noah leaped rush to the net behind a; over the net to cengratu- second serve resulted in, late the feisty American, disaster as the left--After Wilkison broke Noah twice in the fourth J for set to even the match at critical break. two sets each, the final the set proceeded on serve on the first point of the until the ninth game. last B ame but took, the cLvino nt next four points With a 4-7 i£on Snt 8 to «°« rish as he P un *P etl 44, Wilkison went to Ws fJsj . aßer each poJnt fkSd with the rOarJn B CrOwd tried to follow his second lcuaerserve to the net to give After his winning overthe American a 15-30 head smash ended the lead in the ninth game. match, the American Noah left his feet to jumped a P make a volley only to see *be air a Wilkison manage a raised, then bleu kisses splendid retrieval to to the crowd.

sHhi' ■ ■ ' - • ? grab a double breakpoint at 15-46. Another Noah rush to the net behind a; second serve resulted in, disaster as the lefthander ripped another forehand past him for the critical break. Wilkison double-faulted on the first point of the last game but took the next four points with a flourish as he pumped his fist after each point with the roaring crowd getting louder and louder. After his winning overhead smash ended the match, the i American jumped straight up into the air with both arms raised, then blew kisses to the crowd.