TENNIS ROUNDUP : Gomez Sweeps Past Cherkasov, Wins His Third U.S. Pro Title

Andres Gomez of Ecuador won his third U.S. Pro tennis title by defeating top-seeded Andrei Cherkasov of the Soviet Union, 7-5, 6-4, Sunday at Brookline, Mass.

Gomez, 31, seeded seventh, took advantage of Cherkasov’s fatigue. The Soviet had defeated fifth-seeded Jimmy Arias, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-4, in a rain-interrupted semifinal that began Saturday night and concluded Sunday, two hours before the match against Gomez.

Gomez got a decisive opening-set break when Cherkasov hit long on a pair of forehands to lose the 12th game.

Gomez won 14 of 19 points in taking a 3-0 lead in the concluding set and each player held serve to complete the sixth consecutive U.S. Pro title to be decided in straight sets.

Gomez earned $50,000; Cherkasov got $25,000.

Gomez also won the U.S. Pro championship in 1986 and ’89. Not since Bjorn Borg won the title in 1974, ’75 and ’76 has anyone won the tournament three times.

Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden and Karel Novacek won semifinal matches in a rain-delayed tournament at Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Gustafsson, seeded fourth, beat Martin Jaite of Argentina, 6-2, 6-2, and third-seeded Novacek outlasted Spain’s Francisco Clavet, 6-3, 6-7 (7-2), 6-2.

The final will be played today.