Advertisement

Tennis Roundup : Connors Tries to End Mayotte’s Upset Streak Today

Share
From Times Wire Services

Top-seeded Jimmy Connors is on the threshold of his first tournament title in 20 months.

Connors, who is coming off a 10-week suspension, defeated Robert Seguso, 6-3, 6-4, in just 64 minutes Saturday to reach the final of the Queen’s Club tennis tournament at London.

His opponent today will be eighth-seeded Tim Mayotte, who registered his second big upset in two days, stopping third-seeded Stefan Edberg, 7-6, 6-1. On Friday, Mayotte ousted second-seeded Boris Becker.

Although he has won more tournaments than any man during the Open era with 105, Connors has been shut out since winning in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 1984.

Advertisement

Mayotte, for his part, has won just one tournament, in February 1985. In two days, though, he has disposed of both the Wimbledon and Australian champions.

Connors, seeking his fourth title at Queen’s Club, delighted the crowd with his antics Saturday.

At one point in the match, Connors, racing across the baseline to hit a forehand, which he netted, skidded into the barrier along the sideline. He returned to the court on his hands and knees, crawling, then commenting loudly:

“I should know better. I’m 34 and I don’t have to play like this.”

Against Edberg, Mayotte played an almost flawless serve-and-volley game, knocking off reflex volleys and covering most of the angles when the Swede went for a passing shot.

“I feel very strong,” Mayotte said. “I’m playing as well as I ever played.”

Top-seeded Pam Shriver and second-seeded Manuela Maleeva won their semifinal matches in a women’s $125,000 tournament at Edgbaston, England.

Shriver, the defending champion, beat Larissa Savchenko of the Soviet Union, 6-2, 6-1, in 46 minutes. Bulgaria’s Maleeva held off fourth-seeded Kathy Jordan, 6-0, 6-7, 6-1, in a match that lasted more than two hours.

Advertisement

“It’s going to be an interesting final,” Shriver said. “Until now, I’ve been playing serve-and-volley players, but Maleeva likes to stay on the baseline. She surprised me today because I thought Jordan would be too experienced for her on grass.”

Advertisement