McEnroe Is Up to His Old Tricks in Victory

Although he said he didn’t play up to his standards, John McEnroe came up with enough vintage McEnroe shots to beat Scott Davis, 7-5, 4-6, 10-5, Thursday night in the Success Magazine Champions Tournament before 1,793 at Newport Beach Tennis Club.

McEnroe hadn’t played since winning the Champions event in Naples, Fla., two months ago and the inactivity showed on occasion in wayward forehands and sloppy volleys. But when he needed to win a big point, McEnroe usually came through with a beautiful touch volley or a patented blocked backhand return.

Davis, playing at his home club in his first senior singles event, won the second set after winning a nine-deuce game. But he fell behind, 4-0, in the championship tiebreaker and was unable to recover.

“He’s still hitting the ball great,” Davis, 38, said. “When he makes his first serve, he’s really effective.”

McEnroe, 42, was not nearly as cantankerous as he can be, but he still had his moments--glaring at a lineswoman over a call then cursing her a point later as he ripped a winner.

In earlier round-robin matches, Henri Leconte beat John Lloyd, 7-5, 7-6 (3), and Pat Cash handed Guillermo Vilas his second loss of the tournament, 6-1, 6-3. In a late match, Yannick Noah beat Mats Wilander, 6-3, 6-4.