TENNIS ROUNDUP : Lendl Keeps Heat on Krickstein, Wins Title

Ivan Lendl held off Aaron Krickstein, 6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, to win the WCT Tournament of Champions in New York Sunday for a fourth time.

“It was really hot and tough out there,” said Lendl, who won the last six games after falling behind, 3-0, in the third set. “It came down to conditioning.”

With the victory, Lendl goes into the U.S. Open, beginning today, seeking his fourth title on the hard courts at Flushing Meadow.

Rain was a problem earlier in this tournament, but the temperature soared above 100 degrees on the court Sunday. Lendl, as he did at the Australian Open earlier this year, wore a Legionnaire’s hat to combat the heat.

Krickstein broke Lendl’s serve in the opening game of the third set, then held. When Krickstein got another break, he led, 3-0.

“I’d get a little wind and I’d play one point pretty good,” Krickstein said. “Then I’d be really tired. I couldn’t sustain anything. I was just too tired and I would cramp.”

Said Lendl: “I started feeling better and I saw Aaron was not feeling well. As you could see, he couldn’t move.”

Lendl won $100,000 for taking first place.

Krickstein earned $50,000.

Sweden’s Stefan Edberg, the world’s top-ranked player, warmed up for the U.S. Open with a victory over 18-year-old Goran Ivanisevic of Yugoslavia in the Hamlet Challenge Cup at Commack, N.Y.

It was the 21st consecutive match victory for Edberg. He also has won titles at Wimbledon, Los Angeles and Cincinnati during that span.

“It was a hard match,” said Edberg, who won, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. “The humidity was tough to cope with, but I was prepared.

“It probably will get hotter the next few days at the U.S. Open, too. But I’m ready for it. This has been a good week for me, four good matches.”

Edberg won $32,800.

Said Ivanisevic, a slender 6-foot-4 left-hander who climbed from No. 371 to his ranking as No. 15: “It was a good match. I had chances, but he played too good. His backhand was unbelievable.”

Steffi Graf raised some doubts about her readiness for the U.S. Open as she struggled to a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Jennifer Capriati in the Pathmark Classic final at Mahwah, N.J.

Graf, who is scheduled to play qualifier Maureen Drake of Canada today in the Open, did not play like the world’s No. 1-ranked female player. She blew a match point in the ninth game of the second set, lost a service break lead in the third set and committed unforced errors in all three sets.

“It’s an exhibition, an exhibition,” Graf said. “Everyone is taking it so seriously. I can’t believe it’s this intense. It’s not a tournament.”

Said Capriati: “I feel very psyched now for the Open. I’m very confident. It proves I’m getting closer to her. I almost had her.”

Fifteen-year-old Anke Huber of West Germany outlasted Marianne Werdel, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, to win the women’s singles title at the OTB International tournament at Schenectady, N.Y.

In the men’s final, Ramesh Krishnan of India used his superior quickness to beat Kelly Evernden of Naples, Fla., 6-1, 6-1.