Tennis Roundup : Evernden Wins First in Grand Prix

Kelly Evernden of New Zealand won his first Grand Prix title Sunday, beating Tim Wilkison, 6-4, 7-6, in the rain-delayed final of a $100,000 grass-court tournament at Bristol, England.

The unseeded Evernden, ranked 124th in the world, took 1 hour 37 minutes to defeat the fourth-seeded American after both players completed their semifinal matches, which had been rescheduled for Sunday because of rain during the week.

In the semifinals, Wilkison saved six match points in the final set to beat Michiel Schapers of the Netherlands, 6-7, 6-3, 10-8. Schapers had beaten top-seeded Henri Leconte in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Evernden defeated Eric Jelen of West Germany in his match, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.

“I have a good draw at Wimbledon,” Evernden said. “It would be nice to get to the third round where I might play Jimmy Connors again. He beat me like a drum on the Centre Court in my first Wimbledon, and I think I could do better now.”

In the final of a Grand Prix tournament at Athens, fourth-seeded Guillermo Perez-Roldan of Argentina defeated Tore Meinecke of West Germany, 6-2, 6-3.

The 17-year-old Argentine, ranked 56th in the world, earned $20,000, and Meinecke collected $10,000.