TENNIS / AUSTRALIAN OPEN : When War Breaks Out, Even Players Become Spectators

A solemn and distracted mood gripped fans and players at the Australian Open tennis championships Thursday.

Television sets at refreshment stands in the stadium showed American and Australian news reports of the attack against Iraq.

As President Bush spoke to Americans from the White House, tennis fans crowded around the TVs to watch and listen. The sounds of tennis and announcements of the score of the match between Brad Gilbert and Richard Fromberg of Australia could be heard over Bush’s words.

Inside the stadium, fans in the sparse crowd listened to radio reports as they watched the seventh-seeded Gilbert win, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.

“I came here to enjoy the day, but it’s been blown away by what’s happened in Baghdad,” said one fan, Jeffrey Bowkett of Melbourne. “War is a serious business. But people need something to take their minds off the crisis. I’ll stay today but I’ll probably spend a lot of time here listening to the news.”

Ivan Lendl heard of the bombings about just before walking on court to play Scott Davis.

“That made it difficult, but once you’re on the court you have to concentrate on tennis,” said Lendl, who won, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-2, to reach the third round.

“We just have to hope there are as few casualties as possible and that it’s over quickly. If there are terrorist attacks I’d be worried (about traveling),” Lendl said.

A muted, somber crowd watched top-seeded Stefan Edberg defeat Eduardo Masso, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3.

Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson found out about the war after his 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 victory over Wally Masur of Australia.

“I was happy when I walked into the locker room, and a minute later I was crushed,” Gustafsson said.

Second-seeded Boris Becker routed Marian Vajda of Czechoslovakia, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

Steffi Graf, top-seeded in the women’s draw, overwhelmed Maya Kidowaki of Japan, 6-1, 6-0, and fourth-seeded Gabriela Sabatini downed Maria Ekstrand of Sweden, 6-1, 6-1.

Eighth-seeded Zina Garrison struggled before defeating American-born Nana Miyagi of Japan, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2.