Tennis Roundup : After 18 Months, McEnroe Is Back on Winning Track

John McEnroe, winning his first tennis tournament in 18 months, routed top-seeded Stefan Edberg of Sweden, 6-2, 6-2, in the $752,000 Suntory Japan Open final Sunday.

The Japan Open marked McEnroe’s first appearance in a Grand Prix tournament since he reached the quarterfinals at last year’s U.S. Open. His last tournament win came at Scottsdale, Ariz., in October 1986.

McEnroe, ranked No. 1 in the world between 1981-84, was sidelined because of a back injury and a suspension for using abusive language.

“It’s like starting over for me,” he said. “As a start it’s great.

“I think it (his victory, worth $122,250) will make it easier for me to take the bumps that will happen in the next few months because I’ve already won something.”

The victory was the 71st in his career, topped only by Jimmy Connors’ men’s record of 105.

Edberg, who has now lost to McEnroe seven times in their eight matches, took home $61,125.

Edberg said after the match he was troubled by an abdominal muscle injury suffered in Sweden’s Davis Cup series against Czechoslovakia last week.

“I served very badly today and I couldn’t get his serve back,” Edberg said. “It’s pretty bad if you can’t serve--that’s the key of the game.”

Martina Navratilova defeated Gabriela Sabatini, 6-0, 6-2, in just 53 minutes to win a $300,000 women’s tournament at Amelia Island, Fla.

It was the fifth straight tournament title for the 31-year-old Navratilova, and the second time in two weeks she has defeated Sabatini in a final.

“I played well and she didn’t, Navratilova said. “It’s as simple as that.”

“I was expecting the worst. I was thinking she’d play great and she’d be on a high from yesterday.”

Sabatini’s performance Sunday did not match her effort in the semifinals Saturday when she rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the final set to beat top-ranked Steffi Graf of West Germany, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

“I was not tired, but maybe I was a little tight,” Sabatini said. “She never let me get into the match.”

Navratilova downed the 17-year-old Argentine, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, last week in the Family Circle Cup.

Navratilova has now won 9 of 11 meetings with Sabatini and 2 of their last 3 matches on clay.

France’s Henri Leconte beat countryman Jerome Potier, 6-2, 6-2, to win a $150,000 tournament at Nice, France, and claim his first Grand Prix title since 1986.

Kent Carlsson of Sweden defeated Fernando Luna of Spain, 6-2, 6-1, to win the Madrid Grand Prix tournament.