Too much tennis and ‘The body just says no’

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 17

Too much tennis and ‘The body just says no’

By ANDREW WARSHAW NZPA-PA London

As another Grand Prix tennis season nears Its climax, many of the world’s top professionals say they are worn out by the long grind, Some players blame themselves for their fatigue. Others say the rules force them to push themselves to .unacceptable limits. Still others say it Is the result of a trend toward more muscular play, with power replacing finesse.

“When you play and play, eventually the body Just says no," said Stefan Edberg, of Sweden, ranked fourth in the world but a victim of lateseason letdown.

The ruling body of men’s tennis says players are responsible for the long season, frequently crowded by exhibition matches that earn top stars five-figure appearance fees no matter who wins.

The Men’s International Professional Tennis Council says tournament requirements cover less than half a year and give players plenty of time to rest.

Edberg was the top seed at the Benson and Hedges Championships at Wembley Arena in October but was' eliminated in the first round by Jacob Hlasek, of Switzerland, ranked twenty-ninth in the world.

The loss was hardly startling at Wembley. Only two seeded players were among the eight quarter-finalists. Edberg had never lost to Hlasek In previous meetings, overpowering the Swiss with his all-around game. "This time,' he was tired physically and mentally,” Hlasek said. "I could see it."

Marshall Happer, the administrator of the council, said the players themselves may not understand that' they draw up their own schedules.

"The reason they say they’re tired, and I’m sure many are, is that they constantly play special events,’’ Happer said In a telephone Interview from New York. "Any time anyone offers them a dollar, they go for it. Some of their schedules are absolutely ridiculous.’’ The council, which, governs the men's game, says all Grand Prix players must compete in 14 designated events a season. That' includes five tournaments that each last two weeks — the U.S., French and Australian opens, Wimbledon and the Lipton International Players Championship. The top players also qualify for the week-long W.C.T. Finals in Dallas and the season-ending Masters in New York. That makes a total mandatory commitment of 21 weeks. “We don’t consider that.an, unreasonable burden, especially as they are playing* for $2O million in prize money and $4.5 million in bonuses," Happer said. Henri Leconte, the flamboyant Frenchman ranked sixth in the world, blasted the rules after his first-round elimination at Wembley by Amos Mansdorf of Israel. Leconte had been sidelined for more than three months this year with mononucleosis and hepatitis.

He said he was being forced to make up for lost time on the circuit and accused administrators of lacking compassion.

"I am having to make up tournaments I missed at a time when I am tired," he said. “The Masters and a holiday are the only things I am thinking about at the moment.”

Happer said the rules allow players with long-term Injuries to ask for a reduction In the number of tournaments they must play. “We have reduced John McEnroe's commitment from 14 to seven tournaments this year because of his long sabbatical, and we’ve reduced Yannick Noah’s because of his Injury problems," he said, Leconte said he had made

an informal request for time off. Happer said the council has a pending petition from Leconte, but added that Leconte had decided on his own to skip several events and the tournaments were “left holding the bag."

McEnroe took six months off to be with his wife when their first child was born. Since then he has won three Grand Prix tournaments plus a rich non-clrcult event in Antwerp. He was eliminated In the first round at Wembely by Australian Pat Cash. The American said he was tired, but that he was at fault for playing too much tennis too soon after his return.

"If I’d arranged things for the whole year, I would not possibly have played as much as I have In the last three months," McEnroe said.

Kevin Curren, who lost to Noah in the semi-finals at Wembley, believes the shift .toward power tennis Is another reason players are exhausted at the end of the season.

“The game is moving in

the direction of power and the need to be superfit," he' said. "The little guys like Harold Solomon and Eddie Dlbbs are gone, they’re almost extinct.”

"On the slower surfaces, you still see some of them surviving, players like (Sweden’s) Michael Pemfors. But even he hits the ball awful hard for a small guy. Those guys are few and far between.”