Temper lost, match won

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 40

Temper lost, match won

NZPA-Reuter Toronto The top-ranked Ivan Lendl threatened to walk out on his match against Kevin Curren yesterday but reconsidered and then went on to win his fifth Canadian Open tennis title.

Lendl, who did not drop a set in this hardcourt warm-up for the U.S. Open, defeated Curren 7-6 (12-10), 6-2 to take the $U5119,700 ($NZ186,700) winner’s prize. Curren earned $U559,850 ($NZ93,366).

Disputes over line calls marked the first set tiebreaker. With Lendl up 53 in the tiebreaker, the South African-born Curren tucked a forehand passing shot in the corner for a winner to move within a point of the Czechoslovak. Lendl, who thought the ball was long, asked the chair umpire, Richard Ings, to remove the lineswoman who made the call, but he refused. Lendl then sent a topspin lob long to allow Curren to level it at 5-5.

Curren, frustrated at a two-minute delay in which Lendl argued the earlier call, faulted on his next serve but Mr Ings awarded Curren a let and warned Lendl about stalling.

Lendl responded by stalking to his seat and threatening to forfeit the final. “Take that (point) away or I’m not coming back,” Lendl yelled at Mr Ings. “She’s (the lineswoman) screwing up the match.”