THE SIDELINES : Defending Champion Zivojinovic Averts Upset at Australian Tourney

Defending champion Slobodan Zivojinovic of Yugoslavia advanced to the second round of the Australian Indoor tennis championships today, but not before surviving a scare from an unknown Australian qualifier playing in his first Grand Prix event.

Zivojinovic, 26, the fifth seed for the 32-draw event, beat little-known Darren Patten, 19, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a first-round match at the Sydney Entertainment Center.

Zivojinovic, complaining of tendinitis in his right elbow, his serving arm, struggled against Patten, who is ranked just 653rd to the Yugoslav’s 47th. The big-hitting Yugoslav, who relies heavily on his serve, was continually frustrated by his own play and the tenacity of the Australian.

“I was surprised at the way he played. I was really lucky to come back and win,” Zivojinovic said.

Australian Richard Fromberg, ranked 160th in the world, pulled off the first upset of the tournament when he beat sixth-seeded Eric Jelen of West Germany 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

Top-seeded in the tournament, which ends Sunday, is Ivan Lendl.