Ivanisevic, Edberg Earn Victories, Admiration

Tennis fans at the U.S. Open may be iconoclastic and rude, but they are fans. When they are in their seats and not at a concession stand, they cheer.

If fans here like a player, they let it be known. Two players were lavished with affection Sunday: the tempestuous Goran Ivanisevic and his behavioral opposite, the sedate Stefan Edberg.

The fourth-seeded Ivanisevic entertained well and took four match points to beat Hendrik Dreekmann, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (13-11), in a third-round match. Edberg prolonged his retirement another day by beating Paul Haarhuis, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

The Grandstand Court was packed for Ivanisevic’s match, as fans find the glowering Croatian fun to watch because of his unpredictability.

“I think they like a little action,” Ivanisevic said of the New York fans. “They like action movies, so they like me. Always something interesting going with me when I play: some aces, a little talking to the people around, a little fighting, a little throwing the rackets.”

Edberg, cheered on every volley, will next face Britain’s Tim Henman, who upset 12th-seeded Todd Martin, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Defending champion Pete Sampras, always a favorite of crowds here, made short work of Alexander Volkov, winning, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, and seemed to hardly notice the unruly crowd.

“The noise level, people moving around behind the court, that’s the U.S. Open,” Sampras said.