Lendl in good touch

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 27

Lendl in good touch

NZPA-AFP Miami, Florida The top-seeded Ivan Lendl found little to criticise about his game after beating the tenth-seed, Aaron Krickstein, of the United States, in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the International Players Championship. “I’m not terribly worried about my game,” Lendl said after beating Krickstein, 6-2, 6-2, 62, in less than two hours. "I’m healthy. The most important thing is to move well and stay fit.” The world number one was in top form against Krickstein, and was never in danger of losing his serve, while breaking his opponent twice in each set. “He won so many points on his serve,” Krickstein said, adding quickly: “More than I did.” Lendl’s opponent in the semi-finals will be the thirteenth seed, Kevin Curren. The South African-born American upset the eleventh seed, Spaniard Emilio Sanchez, 6-3,

6-1, 6-4. Lendl, who has won six of his eight matches against Curren, said he would have to overcome Curren’s powerful serve to win. “If I return his serve well, it will be the key to the match,” he said. Earlier, Yannick Noah, of France, was glad to win an easy straight-set victory over the unseeded West German, Carl-Uwe Steeb, after enduring three consecutive five-set matches. Noah, seeded twelfth, needed only one hour and 47 minutes to beat Steeb, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4. “The last match was very tough, so I’m really glad to have won this one so quickly,” Noah said, referring to his five-set marathon against fifth-seeded Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland on Monday. Noah advanced to the semi-final round for the second straight year. “I like this place,” he said. “It’s a nice tournament.” The flamboyant Frenchman said his knees were not bothering him and he felt he could win the tournament. .