Borg Is a No-Show, but Olmedo Defends Fellow Hall of Fame Inductee

The major story at last weekend’s International Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at Newport, R.I., centered on the person who unfortunately wasn’t there for the presentation.

Five-time Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg, most likely sitting at home in Sweden or Monte Carlo, attracted more attention for not going than the four players who were there.

Borg was widely criticized by the tennis press, and by several former stars, for skipping the ceremony. To most players, it would seem difficult to understand such an absence. But Alex Olmedo, a fellow inductee, looked at the situation from a different viewpoint, saying he didn’t think Borg’s action was selfish.

“Oh no, we all have different problems,” said Olmedo. “We’re all egomaniacs in a way. Whatever his hang-up was, I don’t blame him for not coming. Maybe he was too busy making money or maybe he was afraid to make the flight. Whatever, it doesn’t take anything from the presentation.

“I also think it’s a bit of publicity shock for him after all these years. Most of the movie stars I work with sometimes don’t like to be in the public eye. I think Borg is in the same category. He’s probably publicity shy now.”

Olmedo’s claim to fame these days is his role as tennis instructor to the rich and famous. For the last 22 years, he has taught at the Beverly Hills Hotel, instructing business people and actors such as Elliott Gould, Gene Wilder and Charlton Heston.

So, obviously, Olmedo knows what he’s talking about when it comes to those who want to avoid the public eye for a change.

With all the talk about Borg’s absence, it’s interesting to note that Olmedo had his own problems trying to make the induction ceremony. A week ago last Friday, he spent the entire day trying to reach Newport from Los Angeles, succeeding only after being delayed in Detroit for five hours.

That meant he missed the first day of ceremonies, but Olmedo was present for the actual induction and presentation. The other inductees were Stan Smith, Dennis Ralston and Billie Jean King. King, too, had her problems getting to Newport on time, arriving in a helicopter near courtside.

“We just walked in,” Olmedo said, laughing. “She flew in.”

Add Olmedo: Although Olmedo won Wimbledon and the Australian Open, he is perhaps best remembered for his role in the 1958 Davis Cup final against Australia.

Olmedo, then 22 and still at USC, where he had won that year’s NCAA doubles title after having won singles in 1956, teamed with Ham Richardson and upset the heavily favored Australians, 3-2, in Brisbane. At the time, Aussies Ashley Cooper and Mal Anderson were ranked 1-2 in the world. The difference in international experience meant nothing as the Peruvian-born Olmedo almost singlehandedly led the United States to the Davis Cup. He beat Anderson in four sets the first day, teamed with Richardson to beat Neale Fraser and Anderson, then beat Cooper in four sets on the last day to clinch the victory.

Olmedo said he didn’t have any special feeling, no idea they could pull it off. Since he and Richardson had won the U.S. national doubles title, Olmedo thought they might take the doubles point.

“I thought we might get lucky and win one or two of the four singles points,” he said. “But I was fortunate enough to win both my singles.”

The air of invincibility Olmedo gained from the Davis Cup experience carried over as he won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 1959.

“It certainly did give me the confidence for the future tournaments,” he said. “It was the biggest steppingstone for my career. It was a tremendous gamble to even let me play.”

Stefan Edberg, ranked No. 3 in the world behind Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander, has entered the $250,000 Volvo-Los Angeles tournament Sept. 21-27 at UCLA’s L.A. Tennis Center. He has been a finalist at Los Angeles the last two years, losing in 1985 to Paul Annacone and to John McEnroe in 1986.

This year, Edberg got off to a strong start, defending his Australian Open title, winning the U.S. National Indoors at Memphis, and reaching the final at Indian Wells. Most recently, he made the semifinals at Wimbledon.

Although Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova will be unable to compete for the United States in next week’s Federation Cup play because of a sprained ankle, she is still scheduled to play in the Slims of Los Angeles Aug. 10-17 at the Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach.

Navratilova sprained her ankle playing basketball at her home in Fort Worth last week, and the injury has not responded to treatment.

Tennis Notes The finals of the USTA national hard court tournament were held last week in various age groups at different sites in Northern and Southern California. The most notable victory was Michael Chang’s 6-3, 7-6, 7-5 win over Pete Sampras of Rancho Palos Verdes in the boys’ 18-and-under division at Burlingame. If Chang, whose family recently moved from La Costa to Orange County, repeats the accomplishment at the national junior competition in Kalamazoo, Mich., he’ll earn a wild-card spot in the U.S. Open. In all, there was a Southern California player in six of the eight age-group hard court finals. Other finalists included Jonathan Leach of Laguna Beach in 14s; Debbie Graham of Fountain Valley in 18s; Kimberly Po of Rolling Hills in 16s; Laura Kimel of Goleta in 14s, and Nicole London of Rolling Hills Estates in 12s. Akiko Kambe Gooden of Los Angeles won the 14-and-under title, beating Kimel, 6-0, 6-0.