Masters Tennis Tournament : Wilander Leaves the Final to Lendl and Becker

NEW YORK — Mats Wilander, the No. 3 tennis player in the world, takes his beatings like a man: strong jaw, head high, kind words all around.

That’s the problem. Some people in tennis would have Wilander Americanize his act, throw his racket, complain to linesmen and criticize opponents after a loss. Cry a little, maybe.

Wilander has won only one tournament this year, and he says he has never been happier. This bothers some people in tennis. More angst, please, Mats, emote.

Wilander was beaten soundly in front of an estimated 13,000 in Madison Square Garden Sunday night by Ivan Lendl, who advanced to tonight’s final in the $500,000 Nabisco Masters against Boris Becker. But Wilander’s manner after the 6-4, 6-2 loss would have been identical had the score been in his favor.

The 22-year-old Swede carries himself with an elegant and distant grace. His calm bearing and rational comprehension of the whys of his losses contrasts him with many players on the tour. It may give the appearance that Wilander is ambivalent about tennis and his place in it.

The image has always been with Wilander; the rap that he doesn’t care if he wins or loses. Wilander cares as much as he can, but he will not anguish over his computer ranking or a flubbed forehand volley. There are more important things.

“Tennis is something you do for 10 years, it’s not worth spoiling your whole private life,” Wilander said. “It’s a job, it’s fun, but it’s a job. Other things in life are so much more important.”

It was this attitude that drew sniping from other players. John McEnroe has criticized Wilander for “cheating the sport” by not wanting to be No. 1 and for “coming in the back door” at some tournaments.

Wilander’s standard response is a shrug.

“I don’t want to kill, I am for peace,” he said. “It’s something you’re born with--a killer instinct. You can’t change things. People who think that (that he does not care) do not understand. They are just showing that they are not human beings.”

Wilander is a most content human being at the moment. After complaining about professional tennis’ demanding travel schedule, Wilander took seven weeks off after the U.S. Open.

“I did not play tennis at all for four weeks,” Wilander said. “Then I went to the gym a few times, but it was not fun.”

The Masters is Wilander’s last singles tournament this year. The next tournament he’ll play is in Philadelphia, Feb. 2.

Wilander knocked around New York during his layoff, so he could spend time with his fiancee, South African model Sonya Mulholland. The two will be married Jan. 3 in South Africa.

Asked what he most enjoyed during his time off, Wilander said, “My girlfriend.” What was second? “There is no second place.”

This is the sort of sentiment that one would expect from the low-key Wilander. At a press conference last week, Wilander was the sartorial exception among the otherwise well-dressed players--he sat quietly in his flannel shirt and faded jeans, a millionaire at peace with himself but ill at ease in mob scenes.

Wilander is popular with the other players, especially the East Europeans. Perhaps with one exception.

Lendl, a Czechoslovakian, was miffed by a comment Wilander made earlier in the week. Lendl didn’t even hear the one Wilander made last night, in which Wilander said he’d rather play Lendl than Becker, because Lendl was the easier prey.

“All I knew was that at the beginning of the tournament, he (Wilander) said that I was playing worse and worse,” Lendl said. “So I thought it would be nice to ask him when the last time he saw me play healthy. I didn’t take it badly. I like Mats, but I thought it was rather a strange comment, because the last time that I played really serious, healthy tennis was at the U.S. Open. I thought I played extremely well there.”

Well enough to win. Lendl is playing well enough to win this tournament, but so is Becker. Becker advanced to the final by beating Stefan Edberg, 6-4, 6-4.

It is the seventh time in seven appearances here that Lendl has made it to final. Lendl said he wasn’t sure what the nature of the chemistry between himself and this tournament, but, “I would get it for every tournament if I knew exactly what it was.”

Lendl has not lost a set here and wasn’t in danger of it Sunday night. Wilander had no break points against Lendl, who was serving, according to the Swede, “the best I’ve ever seen him.”

That is a high standard by which to measure. Against Wilander, Lendl had eight aces and won 96% of his first-service points.

Lendl broke in the ninth game of the first set to get the edge he needed to win the set in 54 minutes.

He dispatched Wilander with equal speed in the second set. Lendl’s serve was close to being unreturnable, at least Wilander found it so. Lendl lost only one point in his four service games in the second set. The final game of the match lasted a mere 1 minute 40 seconds.

Becker won with equal ease.