Tennis Roundup : Connors Is Down and Out in U.S. Indoor Final

Jimmy Connors suffered a sprained ligament in his right knee Sunday and had to retire from the U.S. Indoor championships at Memphis, Tenn.

The injury, which occurred in the second set, enabled Stefan Edberg of Sweden to pick up the $45,000 prize. Connors got $22,500.

Edberg, 21, was leading, 6-3, 2-1, when Connors, 34, fell to the hard-court surface at The Racquet Club of Memphis after hitting a weak overhead in the third game of the second set.

While Connors lay on the court clutching his right knee, Edberg returned the ball into the open court to break Connors’ serve and take a 2-1 lead.

Connors was assisted off the court and attended to during the changeover. After being assessed one penalty point for delay, he retired from the match. He will probably be sidelined for at least six weeks.

“There is no complete tear and no need for immediate surgery,” said Todd Snyder, trainer for the Assn. of Tennis Professionals. “He is in a splint and will be on crutches.”

Connors, who had won seven U.S. Indoor titles, said he knew he would be unable to continue.

“I couldn’t put my weight on it, and I couldn’t go out there and chase balls on one foot. That’s not fair to me or him (Edberg) or the people,” Connors said.

Connors, who has not won a tournament since 1984, has now lost in his last seven finals.

“I really don’t remember what happened,” he said. “After I hit the shot, I came down and I was leaning back and I tried to go forward, and then I can’t remember.”

Edberg, though disappointed his title came by default, said he was delighted to win his second U.S. Indoor title in three years. He beat Connors and Yannick Noah back-to-back in 1985 to win the title.

“It felt kind of strange when you win the match like this,” the 1987 Australian Open champion said. “It’s not like winning match point.

“I served well and played well from the base line. I am sorry the match had to end like this, but I felt maybe I deserved to win anyway.”

Zina Garrison won her second championship of the year by beating Sylvia Hanika of West Germany, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, in a $150,000 Virginia Slims tournament at San Francisco.

The victory was worth $33,300 to Garrison, who advanced to the final by beating top-seeded Hana Mandlikova in the semifinals. Hanika earned $14,500.

“This is definitely the best beginning (of a year) in my career,” said Garrison, who won in Australia last month. She added that she’s “getting close to the game I’m capable of playing.”