WIMBLEDON REPORT : They Came a Long Way, but No One Knows Why

There might have been a small step forward for women’s rights here Tuesday, but nobody was quite sure if it happened for a reason, or if it just happened.

Martina Navratilova’s appearance as the lead-off act on Centre Court was apparently unprecedented, since the situation with a first-day rainout was rare, and since none of the British tennis writers could explain it. Nor could Alan Mills, the head official.

The defending men’s champion goes on first on Centre Court. That’s Wimbledon tradition. Because Monday’s rainout delayed the schedule for a day, however, Navratilova, as defending women’s champion, went out first Tuesday.

“That’s traditional, because Tuesday is Ladies’ Day at Wimbledon,” Mills said.

But why then, he was asked, did defending champion Boris Becker go out first in 1987, on Ladies’ Day Tuesday, even though that Monday start had been rained out?

Three British writers recalled that happening, but none could explain why it had changed for Navratilova. Nor could (or would) Mills, who simply kept saying, “Tuesday is basically Ladies’ Day. That’s all.”

So what was the Tuesday in 1987?

“Can’t explain it,” Mills said.

They were able to play for about five hours Tuesday before it rained again.

Among those having enough time to get in matches were, in men’s singles: John McEnroe, seeded 16th, who beat Jamie Oncins, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4; Pat Cash, 1987 champion unseeded here, who beat Stanford’s Jeff Tarango, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3; Kevin Curren, runner-up here in 1985, who beat Fernando Roese, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, and David Pate, former Volvo of Los Angeles champion, who beat Patrick Bauer, 4-6, 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

In women’s singles: Steffi Graf, top-seeded, beat Sabine Appelmans, 6-2, 6-2; Zina Garrison, seeded seventh and loser to Navratilova in last year’s final, beat Sara Gomer, 6-3, 6-3; Arantxa Sanchez Vacario, seeded fourth, beat Barbara Rittner, 6-1, 6-2, and Mary Joe Fernandez, seeded fifth, beat Petra Kamstar, 6-2, 6-4.

McEnroe’s opponent, 21-year-old Brazilian Oncins, was apparently so intimidated by the colorful three-time champion that he won only two of the first 13 points, both of those on double faults by McEnroe.

When McEnroe was asked afterward if he had any sympathy for his young opponent’s problems, he said, “Yes, I feel quite bad for him. I wished he had aced me every time.”