Australian Open Tennis : New Zealand’s Evernden, No. 289, Upsets Kriek

Kerry Evernden, a New Zealander who lost a lung in a car accident as a teen-ager, scored the first major upset of the $1.65-million Australian Open tennis tournament Wednesday by defeating two-time champion Johan Kriek in the second round of men’s singles.

Evernden, ranked 289th in the world, beat the South African-born resident of Naples, Fla., who won at Kooyong in both 1981 and 1982, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Ivan Lendl stumbled through several service lapses before subduing Danny Saltz of Newport Beach, Calif., 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, and defending champion Stefan Edberg made a wobbly start before beating John Letts of Rolling Hills, Calif., 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 6-2.

Martina Navratilova, who is bidding for her fourth Australian title, romped past Jamie Golder in 47 minutes, 6-0, 6-1.