Italian Beats Connors in Monte Carlo

Fourth-seeded Jimmy Connors was ousted quickly after an eight-year absence at the $607,500 Monte Carlo Open as he lost in the second round today, bowing to Italian Paolo Cane 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

Connors, 36, received a bye in the first round. He was last at Monte Carlo in 1981 where his final with Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas was interrupted at 5-5 by the rain and never finished

Connors, who was No. 1 in the world from 1974 to 1978 and now ranked 10th in the world, had to encounter rainy conditions again. Heavy showers forced players to a sheltered court with a retractable roof, limiting the play.

Cane, ranked 68th in the world, beat Connors by forcing the American into errors.

“I haven’t played on clay courts in two years. I’ll take my beatings on clay for something down the road. I’m over here for 14 weeks,” said Connors who will look to play better in at least two other clay court tournaments before the French Open.

In the first set after an early trade of breaks, Cane and Connors went into a tiebreaker, going even to 5-5 on points. Then Cane ran from side to side to get two balls before getting a set point at 6-5 on a slicing volley. He then delivered a winning forehand down the line to gain the first set.

Cane blitzed through the second set 6-1 to eliminate Connors.

“I played OK, but I know Connors doesn’t play well on clay so I knew I could do a good match,” Cane, 24, said.

Connors last played four weeks ago at the International Players Championships in Florida, bowing to Kevin Curren in the fourth round.

“I haven’t played too many matches, and I’m struggling a bit,” Connors said. “It’s a point of playing more matches until I feel comfortable. But I’ve never been afraid to walk on a court to win or lose.”