Upstart Curren Routs Connors at Wimbledon

Jimmy Connors suffered one of the most humiliating defeats of his career today as he was routed 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 by giant-killer Kevin Curren, who only Wednesday tossed defending champion John McEnroe out of the Wimbledon tennis championships by a similarly embarrassing 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

The twin triumphs sent Curren into the men’s singles final for the first time Sunday and gave him two of the most startling consecutive upsets in recent Wimbledon history. He was not considered in the McEnroe-Connors class.

Curren’s opponent in Sunday’s final was still to be decided, with West Germany’s Boris Becker and Anders Jarryd of Sweden tied at one set each when a driving rainstorm, the second in a few hours at the All England club, suspended play until Saturday.

Easier Than McEnroe

Connors, the No. 3 seed and two-time Wimbledon champion, bowed in 1 hour, 32 minutes--17 minutes fewer than it took Curren to dispatch McEnroe--as the 27-year-old totally dominated his more highly regarded opponents.

“A bad day at the office,” Connors said. “He played well. I’ve played better.”

“On grass I’ve proven I can play with anybody,” said Curren, the No. 8 seed who was born in South Africa but is a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Austin, Tex.

On grass, Curren’s booming serve has served him well. Connors simply could not handle it. Curren had 17 aces against one of tennis’ best serve returners.

‘Boom, Boom, Boom’

“He throws it up, boom, boom, boom all the time,” Connors said. “When he’s hot, he’s hot. When he’s holding the balls, he controls the tempo. It’s tough to counteract.”

Two years ago, in this same grass-court tournament, Curren eliminated Connors, then the defending champion, in Wimbledon’s fourth round, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 with 33 aces.

“He was 16 short today,” Connors said dryly.

Connors had won their last two matches--neither of them on grass--and held a 4-2 overall edge before today’s wipeout. But this one went all Curren’s way.