SENIOR TENNIS : Injury Forces Connors to Quit Semifinal

Doing what others had failed to do but not in the manner he might have chosen, Andres Gomez broke Jimmy Connors’ stranglehold on the Champions Tour on Saturday.

Gomez reached today’s final of the over-35 event after Connors withdrew because of a calf injury. Connors won the first set, but the score from Sherwood Country Club will read, 3-6, retired.

Gomez will play Johan Kriek, who beat Tim Wilkison, 6-4, 6-2.

It was the first time Connors has failed to make the final of a Champions Tour event. He has won 16 of 19 events on the circuit that he founded three years ago and owns a 50% interest in.

Only two players other than Connors have won titles this season. Connors has been so dominant that the fledgling tour has often given the impression of being his personal plaything.

Gomez, in his first year on the tour, admitted that the dozen or so regular players frequently swap strategies to beat Connors.

Connors was frustrated because the injury occurred while he was doing nothing out of the ordinary and while he was playing well.

“After one game I knew I was in trouble,” Connors said. “I don’t like losing that way.”

The two left-handers, playing under a strong afternoon sun, offered 2,650 fans a brief glimpse at baseline tennis with only a handful of forays to the net.

Ecuador’s Gomez slugged away with heavy topspin, remained planted at the baseline and generally showed the clay-court attributes that brought him the 1990 French Open title. He did awkwardly attack the net late in the set, seeking to disrupt Connors’ rhythm.

“I’m down 4-love and what do I have to lose?” Gomez said. “I wanted to give him something different to look at.”

Connors began the match by holding serve at love and breaking Gomez in his first service game. Gomez managed two break points in the third game, but he failed to convert.

Connors broke again and held to go up 5-0. Gomez perked up his serve and had three consecutive aces to finally hold serve at 1-5.

It was early in the next game that Connors developed a slight tear in the calf muscle of his right leg.

Gomez held serve and Connors continued to visibly favor his right leg. He held serve in the next game to win the set, but after consulting with the trainer and a tour official, he did not continue.