Tennis : Lendl Easily Wins, and So Does Connors

Top-seeded Ivan Lendl and second-seeded Jimmy Connors won their first-round matches in a $315,000 Grand Prix tournament at Chicago Wednesday night, while third-seeded Boris Becker advanced to the third round.

Lendl of Czechoslovakia defeated Tim Wilkison, 6-4, 6-3. Connors beat Steve Denton, 6-4, 6-2.

Earlier, Becker, of West Germany ousted John Sadri, 6-4, 7-6, and eighth-seeded Andres Gomez of Ecuador defeated Rick Leach of Laguna Beach, 6-4, 7-6.

Connors, 33, played his first match since receiving a $20,000 fine and a 10-week suspension from the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council for refusing to complete a match against Lendl on Feb. 21.

He said the suspension, which is due to start next week, has not affected his play. “What it has done is altered my schedule, which I’m sure was their idea,” he said. “With (John) McEnroe out (on a self-imposed vacation) and me out, aren’t you cutting off your nose to spite your face?”