SENIOR TENNIS : Connors Dominates Fleming in Champions Event

Jimmy Connors used his trademark two-handed backhand returns and quick footwork to put away Peter Fleming, 6-3, 7-5, in the quarterfinals of the Digital PC Champions tournament before 3,000 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks on Thursday night.

“We were having some great rallies, but I wasn’t winning any of them,” said Fleming.

“With most of the guys on this tour, I can stand back and rally and be fine. It took me a while to realize that was a ridiculously stupid thing to do with Jimmy.”

Fleming didn’t have much success at the net either and was repeatedly passed when he came in.

If the presence of Connors, who is the co-founder of the 35-and-over tennis tour, and Bjorn Borg, who played in a doubles match later Thursday night, gave the evening session emphasis, then Mansour Bahrami was the show-stopper of the afternoon. The 38-year-old Iranian defeated Tim Gullikson, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, twice recovering from a three-game deficit in the final set to force and eventually win a tiebreaker, 8-6.