Tennis Roundup : McEnroe Shows Flash, Brash and Beats Mecir in Semifinals

Showing some of his old form, John McEnroe reached the final of the $315,000 ABN World Tournament by turning back Miloslav Mecir of Czechoslovakia, 6-1, 7-5, Saturday at Rotterdam, Netherlands.

McEnroe dominated Mecir in the first set and yelled at officials and the crowd in the second set, where he had to survive two set points before winning the match.

“For a set and a half, I played as well or better (than at any time) since I came back,” McEnroe said. “I want to consistently play well and do it throughout a match instead of just for a set.”

In today’s final, McEnroe will face top-seeded Stefan Edberg of Sweden, who defeated surprise semifinalist Jim Grabb, 6-3, 6-4.

Jimmy Connors, seeking his first singles title since October of 1984, rallied to beat Brad Gilbert, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the final of the $315,000 Paine Webber tournament at Orlando, Fla.

Connors, the No. 1 seed who lost in last year’s final to Ivan Lendl, overcame a sluggish start to defeat the fourth-seeded Gilbert in a match that lasted 2 hours 25 minutes.

Connors, who has lost seven straight finals, will face South African Christo van Rensburg in today’s final. Van Rensberg upset third-seeded Tim Mayotte, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, in the other semifinal.

Second-seeded Pam Shriver broke Lori McNeil three times in the first set and twice in the second for a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the semifinals of a $250,000 Virginia Slims tournament at Dallas.

Shriver will face top-seeded Chris Evert Lloyd in today’s final. Lloyd fought off third-seeded Zina Garrison, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.

McNeil, 23, of Houston, broke Shriver in the third and fifth games of the first set, but each time Shriver broke right back. She also broke McNeil’s service in the 12th game to take the set.

In the second set, McNeil slashed a winner down the right sideline as Shriver broke for the net to go ahead, 3-2, but Shriver ran out the last four games and the match.