Tennis : Lendl Beats Connors in Straight Sets; McEnroe Has No Trouble With Gomez

Ivan Lendl, the world’s top-ranked player and defending U.S. Open champion, used a strong baseline game Tuesday to register a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Jimmy Connors in the first round of the Meadowlands Tennis Challenge.

John McEnroe set up a rematch of the U.S. Open final, which he lost to Lendl, by defeating 11th-ranked Andres Gomez in the second match, 6-1, 6-2. McEnroe will face Lendl in tonight’s championship.

No prize money is awarded in the two-night event at the Brendan Byrne Arena, in which each player is receiving a substantial appearance fee.

Lendl had recorded a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Connors in the semifinal round of the U.S. Open.

It took McEnroe, using his big serve and volley game, only 59 minutes to dispose of Gomez.

McEnroe, often criticized for his behavior on the court, was in a jovial mood throughout the match, joking with referees, ball persons and fans while holding his service throughout.

Gomez, a 6-foot-4, 25-year-old native of Ecuador, appeared to be off form after both shoulder and hamstring injuries limited him to just seven tournaments in 1985.