McEnroe, Connors Go Down to Defeat in French Open

Top-seeded John McEnroe and third seed Jimmy Connors were upset in a windy and rainy men’s singles semifinal of the French Open today, leaving two former champions, Ivan Lendl of Czechoslovakia and Mats Wilander of Sweden, to face off Sunday in the battle for the crown.

Wilander, the 1982 winner and seeded fourth this year, beat back McEnroe 6-1, 7-5, 7-5 after Lendl, the defending champion, eliminated Connors 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.

McEnroe blamed the weather and the unexpected rapidity with which Lendl polished off Connors. “I ate too close to the match and I only got here 20-25 minutes before. I thought I had more time,” he said. “But there’s no excuses.”

Connors remained somewhat defiant in defeat.

“The weather here for the last 12 days has been hot and the court was fast. Today the conditions changed, but I won’t change my game with the conditions,” he said. “He (Lendl) didn’t do anything out there. He just hit the ball back.”