Hungarian shatters predictions

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 88

Hungarian shatters predictions

From

DIANNA LESLIE

in Auckland

Andras Lanyi, a courageous Hungarian tennis player, struck back like a cornered cobra when he shattered early predictions that the New Zealand Davis Cup team would easily storm back into the World Group.

He beat Steve Guy 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to level the rubbers at 1-1 after the first day of play at the Chase Stadium in Auckland yesterday. Guy and Lanyi became entangled in a marathon three hour and 50 minute struggle as Lanyi ran down shots that Guy had assumed were winners.

Jeff Simpson, the Davis Cup captain, admitted that Guy had chances to escape Lanyi’s clutches but gave credit to the 19-year-old. “Of course I would rather we were 2-0 up than 1-1, but Steve had his chances and Lanyi deserved to win,” he said.

“Lanyi seemed to be moving better and Steve seemed surprised a lot of the time that he put away his big shots. He had relaxed as his were winners. But Lanyi hustled very well and the guy is a good athlete.” Simpson was wary of early assumptions on Kelly Evernden’s and Lanyi’s clash tomorrow, which could provide spectators with a outstanding finale to the tie. New Zealand’s last skirmish with Hungary in Davis Cup matches was in 1954 and Hungary prevailed 32.

Kelly Evernden, the New Zealand No. 1 player, had little trouble with Sandor Noszaly, winning in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in three hours. Lanyi was explosive from beginning to end against Guy and his ability to pound back shots

under pressure finally demanded the attention of a largely uninspired crowd. Guy appeared slow to get into the net after his serve and elected to let Lanyi’s gutsy groundstrokes and aggressive volleying slide past him.

At one stage Lanyi knocked one of the ball girls sideways as he surged deep into the court to rescue a smash which should have ended the rally. He apologised and helped the youngster to her feet after winning the point. Simpson had made no decision last evening on who would play the doubles combination, although Hungary have already nominated two fresh players, Gabor Koeves and Laszlo Markovits.

“Kelly will probably play, but it will depend on who he plays with. We will have a discussion and possibly make a decision this morning,” he said. Simpson has Bruce Derlin, the left-hander from Auckland, to choose from or David Lewis, also from Auckland. He will have to question Guy’s hesitancy against the risk of the untried players in this tie.

Evernden started his match against Sandor Noszaly hesitantly but he emerged triumphantly with the big points. He put his slow start down to “old age” and nervousness in front of his home crowd. “I was a little nervous

in the first set and I didn’t put the ball away,” he said. “I felt that I didn’t concentrate as hard although I played well overall. But I am getting older after all,” laughed the 27-year-old.

The court surface raised eyebrows as bubbles of air were trapped under the rubber carpet, making an uneven finish, but it did not affect the players and Evernden felt happy with it in spite of slipping over twice. The medium-pace surface kept both players on the baseline but Evernden preferred the switch from the usually pacy serve and volley encounters of professional matches. “I don’t like the guys that pound their serve and then run in. If you have two bad points in a game like that, you’ve had it. "I knew if I kept him back I would be in the driver’s seat — and I was.”

Evernden has maintained an easier schedule this year as he plays for four weeks and then has three weeks off the circuit. The extra energy makes him a sure starter for the doubles and has strengthened his resolve. “At the end of last year I was a vegetable. This year I haven’t played outstandingly, but I have had solid results, the only really disappointing tournament I have had has been Wimbledon. I feel fine for the doubles,” he said.