Tennis Roundup : McEnroe Wins in a Breeze, Says He’s Quitting Doubles

Defending champion John McEnroe defeated Tim Wilkison, 6-2, 6-4, Wednesday in the second round of the $365,000 Player’s International tennis tournament at Montreal.

McEnroe, seeded No. 1, had difficulty handling Wilkison’s serve--and his ground strokes lacked their usual power and accuracy. But he blamed that on a breeze blowing across the center court at Jarry Park.

“I got a little out of rhythm,” he said. “I never got into good rhythm returning his serve.”

McEnroe said his game has been improving since Wimbledon, when he had knee, leg and shoulder problems.

“I’m feeling better and playing better than in the last few months,” he said.

McEnroe attributed his victory at Stratton, Vt., last weekend to the fact that he has dropped doubles play.

“I decided there were just too many other things going on,” he said. “The doubles were beginning to hurt me in the singles. It may be a couple of years before I play doubles again.”

Other top-seeded players advancing were No. 2 Ivan Lendl of Czechoslovakia, who beat Marc Flur, 6-2, 6-2, and No. 3 Jimmy Connors, who eliminated Slobodan Zivojinovic of Yugoslavia, 7-5, 6-4.

Also, No. 5 Anders Jarryd of Sweden defeated Glenn Michibata of Canada, 6-1, 6-2, No. 6 Stefan Edberg of Sweden beat Chip Hooper, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, and No. 7 Eliot Teltscher ousted Jonathan Canter, 7-6, 0-6, 6-4.

At Mahwah, N.J., Pam Shriver, Helena Sukova and Steffi Graf gained the quarterfinals of the $150,000 United Jersey Bank tournament with straight-set victories.

Shriver, seeded No. 1, defeated Helen Kelesi of Canada, 6-3, 6-4. No. 5 Graf of West Germany beat Katerina Maleeva of Bulgaria, 6-2, 6-0, and No. 4 Sukova of Czechoslovakia downed Sylvia Hanika of West Germany, 6-3, 6-3.