Berger Upsets Gomez; Connors, Evert Advance

Jay Berger, recently named to the U.S. Davis Cup team, eliminated fifth-seeded Andres Gomez of Ecuador, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, Thursday in the second round of the $2.1-million Lipton International Players Championships.

In another upset, 10th-seeded Joakim Nystrom of Sweden lost to Mel Purcell, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.

But second-seeded Jimmy Connors had little trouble advancing in a 6-0, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jaro Navratil of Czechoslovakia. And seventh-seeded Anders Jarryd of Sweden downed Pieter Aldrich of South Africa, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Most of the top women also reached the third round. Second-seeded Chris Evert beat Melissa Gurney, 6-0, 6-2, and top-seeded Steffi Graf of West Germany defeated Sara Gomer of Britain, 6-1, 6-3.

Berger, who upset Mats Wilander last week in Orlando, Fla., said he should have eliminated Gomez sooner.

“I have had the physical ability, but thinking better during my matches has lifted my game. I should have won in straight sets. I really wasn’t happy to be out there in the fourth set, but I didn’t let it bother me like I could have in the past.”

Purcell, who rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the fifth set, saved two match points in his victory over Nystrom.