Swede ousts Lendl from No. 1 spot

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 44

Swede ousts Lendl from No. 1 spot

NZPA-AFP New York Sweden’s Mats Wilander yesterday took over as the world’s top-ranked tennis player by beating the top seed, Ivan Lendl, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to win the U.S. Open.

"It feels great,” Wilander said after the match, which lasted nearly five hours. "It’s for sure the best victory I’ve ever had.

“For me this match meant so much. I’ve never won this tournament; Sweden’s never won this tournament, and I’m going to be number one.”

Wilander, who has already won the Australian and French Opens this year, officially will become No. 1 in the world today, ending Lendl’s reign of 156 straight weeks at the top. “This is by far the best year I’ve ever had,” Wilander said. “To win three is something that goes beyond my wildest dreams.”

His compatriot Stefan Edberg completed the Swedish Grand Slam by winning at Wimbledon. Asked how long he intended to remain No. 1, Wilander responded: “As long as my wife allows me to play tennis.”

Lendl, who lost his bid for a fourth straight Open title, said his goals remained the same and he was not going to waste time pondering his decline to No. 2.

“I’m not going to be sitting around at home worrying about it,” he said. “I’m going to be prepared to go out and win it back next year. The Australian Open is my next goal.” Wilander became the seventh player to attain the top spot since the Association of Tennis Professionals began using

computer rankings in 1973.

“I always think it’s good to have the number one player changing all the time,” he said. “It keeps the interest in the game. People don’t like to see the same player winning all the time.” Wilander also became the first Swede to win the Open. Bjorn Borg appeared in four finals but lost each time.

“Now, I can see why Borg never won,” Wilander said. “It’s one of the toughest tournaments on you both mentally and physically.”

Wilander showed he was tough in both arenas against Lendl, who kept coming back when it looked like he was beaten. “I was controlling things for a while, and then he came back with some great shots,” Wilander said.

After losing the first set on a service break, Lendl had his back to the wall trailing 1-4 in the second set. Lendl then won the

next five games to even the sets at one each.

Lendl again fell behind 4- in the third set, but could not get even a break point on Wilander’s next two service games. In the fourth, Wilander broke again to lead 4-3, but Lendl broke right back and broke again for the set in the twelfth game. “I kept hanging in there and I had a chance to win it, really,” Lendl said. Wilander opened the final set with a service break then survived two break points to lead 2-0. Lendl rallied to win the next three games, but Wilander regained the momentum and took the next three to lead 5-3. Lendl held serve to trail 5- and had two break points in the tenth game before Wilander won the match on a netted return. “I didn’t take advantage of my opportunities,” Lendl said. “I missed a couple of easy winners.”

Meanwhile, the Americans Gigi Fernandez and Robin White beat compatriot Patty Fendick and the Canadian Jill Hetherington 6-4, 6-1 to win the women’s doubles title. The women’s doubles, and the finals of the boys’ and girls’ tournaments, served as a prelude to the men’s singles final. In the boys’ singles final, the top seed, Nicolas Pereira, of Venezuela, overwhelmed the No. 4 seed, Niklas Kulti, of Sweden, 6-1, 6-2.

The girls’ final was just as one-sided as the No. 9 seed, American Carrie Cunningham beat Rachel McQuillan, of Australia, 63, 6-1.