Tennis: Lloyd not the old man this week

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Any win is a good win for Britain’s John Lloyd on

the Success Magazine Champions Tour.

“I don’t win too many these days,” Lloyd said Wednesday night in cool

conditions at the Newport Beach Tennis Club, where he defeated Guillermo

Vilas, 6-3, 6-4, in the opening round of the round-robin men’s senior

tennis event.

In the other opening-round match, French star Yannick Noah beat Scott

Davis, the club’s director of tennis, 6-3, 6-3.

Lloyd, who turns 47 on Aug. 27, took advantage of double faults by

Vilas and won a 90-minute match.

“I thought (Vilas) got on top when he got that break (at 2-2 in the

second set), but then he let me back in the game,” said Lloyd, who became

the first Englishman to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open era,

when he advanced to the 1977 Australian Open title match.

“I was scrambling,” added Lloyd, “but he had too many double faults.

It would’ve been an even match and we would’ve gone into a tie-breaker if

he hadn’t (double faulted so frequently). I got way too many cheap

points, and he knows if he hits it short, I’m going to come in.”

Lloyd, a three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles winner with Wendy

Turnbull, must come back with an early match today (1 p.m.) against

Frenchman Henri LeConte.

“I’ll be feeling it (today), but if we would’ve played another set on

these hardcourts, it would be real tough,” said Lloyd, who was also glad

he’s not the oldest player in the field this week, a tag he usually

wears.

“Guillermo’s taking over this week (at 48),” Lloyd said.

The singles and doubles event runs through Sunday and features John

McEnroe, who will face Davis tonight at 7 o’clock. Following that match

will be Noah and Mats Wilander.

Also playing in the event is Pat Cash, who won two Australian Opens

and one Wimbledon title in his career.

LeConte and Lloyd play today at 1 p.m., followed by Cash and Vilas in

the afternoon session. For tickets: (866) 783-6647.