Victory Over McEnroe at Forum Tonight Will Push Lendl’s Earnings Past $9 Million

Ivan Lendl, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, has a chance to push his career earnings past the $9-million mark tonight when he plays John McEnroe in the final of the Michelin Tennis Challenge Series at the Forum.

Lendl, who has lost only six times in the 106 matches he played since the 1985 French Open and who has won seven of the 10 tournaments he entered in 1986, has earned a total of $8,956,688 in his career.

The winner of tonight’s match will receive $100,000, the loser getting $40,000.

The final is the culmination of a 15-month, four-player tournament that also featured Jimmy Connors and Yannick Noah.

McEnroe, whose own ranking has slipped to No. 7 since his self-imposed six-month layoff from competitive tennis, defeated Lendl, 6-4, 7-6, in the tournament’s opening match last year. This will be his first competitive appearance since his layoff.

Preceding the title match, Connors will play Johan Kriek at 6 p.m. After the final, McEnroe and Connors will team against Lendl and Kriek in doubles.