Tennis Roundup : Weary Kriek Says He’s Playing Just to Keep Ranking

Johan Kriek, weary from his travels on the international tennis circuit, advanced Wednesday to the third round of the $145,000 New South Wales Open at Sydney, Australia, with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Brad Drewett of Australia.

“I am operating on mental toughness,” Kriek said. “That’s how I felt today--terrible. We both played like wet bags.”

Kriek, seeded No 1 and ranked 10th in the world, said he entered this tournament only to defend his world ranking. He said the grueling international circuit was becoming tiresome, and he wants to go home.

In other matches, Mark Woolridge of Los Angeles upset Matt Doyle, the Irish Davis Cup team’s No. 1 player, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6; Sammy Giammalva beat Peter McNamara of Australia, 6-2, 7-5, and Kelly Evernden of New Zealand downed Mark Edmondson of Australia, 6-4, 6-4.

In Tokyo, third-seeded Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria routed her younger sister, Katerina, 6-4, 6-3, and fifth-seeded Carling Bassett of Canada eliminated Anne White, 6-3, 6-0, to advance to the quarterfinals of the $300,000 Pan Pacific tournament.

Fourth-seeded Bonnie Gadusek, 22, of Largo, Fla., scored an easy victory over Robin White of San Jose, 6-4, 6-0, and Annabel Croft of Britain had little trouble beating Australian Elizabeth Smylie, 6-1, 6-1.