TEAMTENNIS : Connors Gets Bearings as Strings Win Opener

Jimmy Connors opened the TeamTennis season Wednesday night at the Forum, but who were those people next to him?

“We’re his backup group,” Robin White said. “This is Jimmy Connors and his group. Maybe we should run a contest to come up with a name.”

Of course, they already have a name, the Strings, and they won the TeamTennis championship last year, long before Connors unzipped his racket bag and gave the league a little more credibility.

And now that eight-time Grand Slam winner Connors is with them, the Strings promise not to get too high strung about the identity issue.

“People ask what has Jimmy done for your team,” String player-coach John Lloyd said. “The first thing I say is he’s taken on the mantle as the oldest player in the league from me.”

Lloyd, 36, is two years younger than Connors.

“Sure, Jimmy is going to get the limelight,” Lloyd said. “We all know that. We hope he gets in every newspaper he possibly can. That means we will put as many people in the stands as possible.”

A crowd of 3,428 watched Connors win both sets in which he was involved as the Strings defeated the Charlotte Heat, 27-19. Connors won his singles set against Trevor Kronemann, 6-5 (5-2), then teamed with Lloyd to defeat Kronemann and Mike DePalmer, 6-5 (5-3).

In other matches, Robyn White and Mary Lou Daniels of the Strings beat Candy Reynolds and Ginger Helgeson, 6-2, in women’s doubles; Helgeson defeated White, 6-3, in women’s singles and Lloyd and Daniels beat Reynolds and DePalmer, 6-1, in mixed doubles.

“I think it’s going to be a ball,” Connors said. “It’s all new to me.”

Actually, Connors is not totally new to TeamTennis. He played in 1974 with a team named the Baltimore Banners.

Connors may have a little to learn about the league, though. He thought there were 10 teams instead of 11 and he could name only three of them. Fortunately, one that he was able to identify was the one for which he plays.

There also may be the problem of format. Since Connors plays only one set of singles and one set of doubles, a quick start is essential. Connors said he must be properly warmed up before he plays.

“That’s why we got these steps there,” he said as he pointed to the Forum stands. “Is it all the way up, coach, to the top or just halfway?”

Lloyd walked briskly past: “It’s all the way up, but only on one leg.”

Apparently, it may be some time until Connors is willing to admit he is on his last leg. He said he plans to be playing at 41 or 42.

“Until these guys beat me into oblivion, why not?” Connors said. “I’m not doing anyone any harm. And I’m not taking anybody’s place that should have it ahead of me, that’s for sure.”