Unbeaten Dukes Top Smash in Overtime

The Newport Beach Dukes’ home changed from the 2,500-seat John Wayne Tennis Club to the spacious 17,000-seat Anaheim Arena.

But the less intimate setting didn’t disrupt the Dukes’ World TeamTennis unbeaten streak, which was extended to 10 Saturday night with a 25-23 overtime victory over Jimmy Connors’ Phoenix Smash before an estimated crowd of 3,200.

Newport Beach, the only undefeated WTT team, has clinched a playoff spot and need two more victories to clinch the West Division title.

Part of the crowds’ lethargy might have been caused by Connors’ unusually quiet play. Connors, the world’s top-ranked player from 1974 to 1978, had his supporters, but he didn’t play to the Anaheim crowd like he would fans in New York. He didn’t argue one call and he rarely raised his voice louder than the constant hum of an air conditioner.

The Dukes fell behind early as Katrina Adams and Zina Garrison-Jackson were beaten by Mary Lou Daniels and Carrie Cunningham, 6-4. Adams struggled at the net against Cunningham and Daniels, ranked ninth out of 12 WTT women’s doubles teams.

But Garrison-Jackson dominated Cunningham, 6-2, to give the Dukes a lead they never surrendered. Garrison-Jackson has won 18 of 24 games in taking all of her singles sets.

Trevor Kronemann and Rikard Bergh extended the Dukes’ lead to 16-11 with a 6-3 victory over Connors and Ellis Ferreira.

Connors brought Phoenix (5-4) within striking distance at 19-17 as he knocked off Bergh and his substitute, Kronemann, 6-3. Dukes Coach Greg Patton’s replaced Bergh, who was trailing 4-3. Bergh had broken Connors’ serve three of four times, but he could not hold his serve once.

So when Bergh went to serve at 3-4, Kronemann came in. The strategy backfired as Kronemann missed three consecutive first serves to trail 40-0. He closed to 40-30 but hit a running forehand long to give Connors the service break.

Connors then held serve to finish off Kronemann and win his eighth set in nine tries. Only Mats Wilander of New Jersey has beaten Connors--in the season’s opening match.

Kronemann played better in mixed doubles, holding serve all four times, including once in overtime.