Garrison Breezes Past Provis Before Steady Rain Postpones Play

Zina Garrison was the only seeded player to complete a match during the first day of the U.S. Open Monday, when steady showers washed out play at the National Tennis Center 90 minutes after the tournament began.

Garrison, seeded 11th, beat the rain by defeating Nicole Provis of Australia, 6-0, 6-3, in 59 minutes. It was one of five matches completed.

In men’s play, second-seeded Mats Wilander was leading former National Collegiate Athletic Assn. champion Greg Holmes, 6-2, 6-1, 1-2, when play was halted after Holmes held serve.

The match will be completed today, weather permitting. The forecast calls for cloudy skies with a 50% chance of rain.

Garrison won the first 11 games before Provis, who had reached the French Open semifinals this year, pulled to within 5-3 in the second set. Garrison then broke Provis’ serve to end the match.

“I don’t like to win zero and zero,” Garrison said. “It’s like a jinx going into the next round.”

Because of the rain, the top-seeded players, Ivan Lendl and Steffi Graf, won’t begin play before Wednesday.