Lendl Routs Brazilian in Australian Tourney

Ivan Lendl powered to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Brazilian qualifier Mauro Menezes tonight to move into the second round of the Australian Indoor tennis championship at the Sydney Entertainment Center.

Lendl, the world’s top-ranked player, took only 48 minutes to rout Menezes, ranked 230th in the world.

Three other seeded players were upset in the 32-draw Grand Prix event.

Australian left-hander Mark Kratzmann stunned second-seeded Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7) in another first-round match. Third-seeded Carl-Uwe Steeb of West Germany and eighth-seeded Wally Masur of Australia both lost second-round matches.

Qualifier Lars Wahlgren of Sweden ousted Steeb 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, and Thomas Hogstedt of Sweden beat Masur 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Lendl said he was satisfied with his victory.

“It’s always nice not to have to extend yourself early in any tournament,” said Lendl, who said he played golf, went window shopping for a Ferrari and “slept almost all day” in preparation for his opening match.

He faces American Leif Shiras in his second-round match Thursday.

Kratzmann saved a match point in the final-set tiebreaker in downing Hlasek, who is ranked 10th in the world.

Hogstedt was the first player to reach the quarterfinals when he beat Masur.