Gavaldon Reaches Final Eight

Coronado’s Angelica Gavaldon, a 16-year-old amateur who entered the tournament ranked 192nd in the world, continued her sensational run in the Australian Open Sunday when she upset No. 15-seeded Gigi Fernandez, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals.

And John McEnroe, reverting back to his old behavior by cursing the umpire and throwing rackets, was disqualified for conduct code violations.

The action by umpire Gerry Armstrong, with McEnroe leading Mikael Pernfors, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5, 2-4, in a fourth-round match, triggered raucous booing among the crowd of 15,000 at center court.

Gavaldon, a two-time winner of San Diego Section singles titles while playing for Our Lady of Peace, is competing in her first professional tennis tournament outside the United States. She is the youngest player left in the year’s first Grand Slam event.

Gavaldon, who beat two-time champion Hana Mandlikova in the third round Saturday, will next play Tuesday against West Germany’s Claudia Porwik, who defeated Dinky van Rensburg of South Africa, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.

Gavaldon said the fact that she did not have a day off after her 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 defeat of Mandlikova worked to her advantage.

“It didn’t give me a day to think about it, you know, what happens if I play and win again,” she said. “It all happened really fast.”

Neither victory was flawless; in both, she managed to win just one game in the second set.

“I think today and yesterday was the same thing,” she said. “I just started not playing as aggressive. I was more tentative on my shots, and my passing shots weren’t as good.

“That has happened to me in other tournaments. I lost my concentration.”

Gavaldon said she was more nervous before playing Mandlikova but had a tougher match with Fernandez.

“I played (Mandlikova) on one of the stadium courts, and it’s huge,” she said. “And I knew everybody was going to be on her side because she married an Australian guy. But as soon as I got on the court, everything blocked out. I had no pressure, because she should be more nervous than me.”

As for Fernandez, she said, “It was a lot tougher than yesterday. She’s a great player--great volleys, great passing shots. She’s a very complete player. The points were a lot longer.”

Gavaldon left the United States on Christmas day and is traveling with her mother, so she said she has had both time and a familiar face to help her get acclimated.

“It’s really great here,” she said. “The people and the crowds. And it has really helped to be with my mother, because she’s very supportive.”

McEnroe, who had been given a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second set for intimidating a lineswoman, was hit with another violation for racket abuse when he threw his racket after hitting a ball wide at deuce in the sixth game of the fourth set.

McEnroe, who had been on good behavior all week while playing well, then complained to Armstrong and requested tournament supervisor Ken Farrar. Farrar came onto the court and talked with McEnroe, but the American continued complaining and swearing.

Armstrong then called “code violation, further abuse, default, Mr. McEnroe. Game, set match.”

McEnroe stood with his hands on his hips while the crowd whistled and booed. He then packed his rackets and left the court.

“I really don’t have anyone to blame but myself,” McEnroe said. “This is like a long story. It culminates in me getting defaulted from a big tournament. It was bound to happen. It’s too bad.”

McEnroe said he was under the impression they were playing under previous rules and that there would be four steps to disqualification. Rules implemented on the new ATP Tour this year dropped the number of steps to three.

“I thought the rules were different,” McEnroe said. “I have no one to blame but myself for not knowing.”

Defending champions Ivan Lendl and Steffi Graf overcame unusually sloppy play and kept rolling to reach the quarterfinals.

Lendl had 46 errors, yet never was threatened in beating Simon Youl of Australia, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1.

Graf started with an ace and ended with another one to notch her 45th consecutive victory, 6-2, 6-3, over 13th-seed Raffaella Reggi of Italy.

Helena Sukova, who lost the 1989 final against Graf, ended the surprising surge of Japan’s Kimiko Date, 6-4, 6-3.

Unseeded Soviet Andrei Cherkasov upset No. 9 Andres Gomez of Ecuador, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5).

Graf was in control of her match throughout, but was annoyed by an unusually high 28 unforced errors.

“I have a lot left to improve,” Graf said.