Australian Open Tennis Championships : McEnroe Escapes Defeat but Receives $1,500 Fine

John McEnroe was two points away from elimination Monday before he battled his way into the quarterfinals of the $1.5 million Australian Open tennis championships.

The second-seeded McEnroe trailed 13th-seeded Henri Leconte of France two sets to one and 1-5 in the fourth-set tiebreaker but rallied for a 5-7, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory after 3 hours 30 minutes.

McEnroe reeled off six straight points to win the fourth set, then ripped through the fifth as the 22-year-old Leconte’s confidence faded.

However, during the match, McEnroe received a code violation for “verbal abuse” and was later fined $1,500. Two days ago, McEnroe was fined $1,250 for an audible obscenity, which put him over the $7,500 annual limit and brought about an automatic 21-day suspension beginning immediately after the Australian Open.

Keith Johnson, supervisor of the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council, also assessed Matt Mitchell with a $350 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct and Johan Kriek with a $350 fine for an audible obscenity.

McEnroe was stunned that he was pushed so hard by Leconte, who has lost all seven of their career meetings.

“I will always remember today’s match when I look back on this crazy life of tennis,” McEnroe said. “It was a wonderful match, it was one of those great matches. Leconte played great tennis. He’s a wonderful competitor, and he’s going to finish up in the top 10 for sure.”

Leconte was far from dejected.

“I am very happy at the way I played. I tried very hard and I played great tennis for all the five sets, and that’s important.

“I’m tired. John played brilliant tennis. He is a wonderful competitor, and that’s why he is the best grass court player in the world.

“It was a great match. Of course I’m sorry I lost. I had my chances, didn’t I?”

The epic match, delayed by nearly 3 1/2 hours by early morning showers that soaked already soggy courts, was played on an outside court by McEnroe’s request. Nearly 3,000 spectators jammed the 1,500-seat facility.