RR1 : vs LESLIE ALLEN
Allen, who said she had envisioned headlines when she woke up saying, “Harlem Girl Comes Downtown, Gets Blown Out In First Set,” came within two points of losing the opening set, then captured nine of the last 10 games.
Although Mandlikova is ranked fourth in the world. 24th-ranked Allen has beaten the 19-year-old Czech three times in a row. Last month, Allen defeated Mandlikova at Detroit to become the first black woman in 23 years to win a major tennis event.
“When you’re playing someone you’ve beaten before, you see patterns develop and you remember what you did,” said Allen.
RR1 : vs LESLIE ALLEN
Allen, who said she had envisioned headlines when she woke up saying, “Harlem Girl Comes Downtown, Gets Blown Out In First Set,” came within two points of losing the opening set, then captured nine of the last 10 games.
Although Mandlikova is ranked fourth in the world. 24th-ranked Allen has beaten the 19-year-old Czech three times in a row. Last month, Allen defeated Mandlikova at Detroit to become the first black woman in 23 years to win a major tennis event.
“When you’re playing someone you’ve beaten before, you see patterns develop and you remember what you did,” said Allen.
Twice Mandlikova broke service in the opening set, the second time for 5-4, but each time Allen came back with a break of her own.
Allen then made the critical break in the 12th game when Mandlikova netted a backhand.
After Mandlikova broke to open the second set, she committed three double-faults in the second game and never was able to win another game. With a spared crowd of about 300 cheering her up, Allen allowed Hana only 13 points in the second set.
“I had some chances and didn’t use those chances, so I lost,” Mandlikova said. “When i break her and then lose my serve, it’s stupid.”
RR2 : PAM SHRIVER
Hana Mandlikova, the world’s fourth-ranking woman, remained in contention by beating Pam Shriver, 6-2, 7-6 in a double-elimination-Round-Robin format. . Mandlikova broke in the sixth and eighth games of the opening set and . after Shriver achieved her only break of the match in the third game of the second set, Mandlikova got the break back and then won the tie-breaker 7-3. Tonight, Mandlikova will play Hanika, and Allen meets Bettina Bunge,
But It’s Jaeger and fellow Czechoslovakian Hana Mandlikova who worry Navratilova the most. “Hana’s the toughest to play against because she’s very unpredictable,” Navratilova said. “When she’s playing her best she’s tough to beat.” The 19-year-old Mandlikova wasn’t quite at her best, but she had enough weapons to eliminate 18-year-old Pam Shriver, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), in the best of last night’s lackluster matches. “You wonder what’s she’s going to do and you never know,” Shriver said after her defeat. “It’s tough playing someone like that.”
Her match with Mandlikova perhaps was more crucial to the 19-year-old Czech who was one of the pre- tournament favorites and was coming off a first-round Ion to Leslie Allen ‘ There were only a few big points in the second set and Mandlikova won most of them
Mandlikova and Bunge earned second chances Friday night the tall Czech bearing Pam Shrlver 6-2 7-6 and Bunge registering a surprisingly easy 6-3 6-2 victory over Barbara Potter
For Mandlikova and Bunge the mood was all of confidence following their victories “In Washington (another double elimination tournament) I won the first round from Andrea but lost in the second round to Tracy (Austin)” Mandlikova said “It’s much better to lose the first round and then win the second I feel more confident” Even the fact she lost to Hanika at Boston last week didn’t deter Mandlikova’s enthusiasm “This is a different tournament” she said “I hope to play better and have enough confidence”
Play-Off : SYLVIA HANIKA
“No. I did not lose my concentration, and I did not feel like I was playing badly And, no, I did not give up,” were Mandlikova’s answers to her mysterious turnabout in last night’s Avon Women’s Championships match with Sylvia Hanika of West Germany
Mandlikova. a 19-year-old Czechoslo-vakian ranked fifth in the world, had fallen on opening day to Leslie Allen Hanika. ranked ninth, bowed to young Andrea Jaeger the following night. So the two foreign standouts entered last night’s play at Madison Square Garden in a battle for survival in the double elimination tournament
Sherlock Holmes, or Watson, probably couldn’t solve the puzzling 1-6. 6-1. 6-0 decision carried away by Hanika
Hanika. who will now have a rematch with Jaeger in today’s semi-finals, was erased from the first set by Mandlikova in merely 19 minutes. A rout appeared to be on and it was. in the other direction.
Three times. Mandlikova had her serve broken in the second set She won but four points over the first four games and then came the crushing blow a loss on her service in a 22-point sixth game Before you could say Czech-mate. Hanika was able to even matters at a set apiece. All in 26 minutes after being wiped out. herself, moments before this
“At the beginning of the second.” Hanika said. “I tried to concentrate and I think it worked because I made more power, too. with my shots .”
Hana knew Hanika was in control but by holding serve in the first game of the final set, she could possibly turn things in her favor.
“If I win I have a little advantage” she said later. “If I lose it would be very hard”
She would lose the game after leading 30-15
Hanika. who admitted that she had been hoping near the end of the first set that She wouldn’t got embarassod in her initial appearand’ in Ihe Garden, camp out firing again , while Mandlikova showed a replay of her second set
It was too easy Mandlikova Iost 11-straight points, could not hold service even once, and registered but six points in the set. It was all over in an hour and two minutes, a rapid three sets, and evened things between the two at four victories each lifetime
“What happened'” Mandlikova responded. “I lost, that’s all! Everybody must lose sometime. I know it looks like I give up because of mv style. but I never give up.” she said.
What really happened was Mandlikova’s usual fleetness to the shot, incisive volleying and crisp authorilv from both sides, crumbled. Along came Hanika to the net, with a swift backhand and sound, deep drives and a thing called momentum.
Both players agreed that the complexion of the match changed dramatically in the sixth game of the second set. The game went to deuce eight times but Mandlikova double-faulted four times, the last setting up break point. Hanika went ahead 5-1 and won the next seven games losing just six points in the last set.
“Yeah maybe after it was 2-love she didn’t try too hard” Hanika said (she) “understood why some thought Mandlikova had stopped trying early in the set. But I don’t think so”
Attendance was announced at 12,050 an impressive figure considering the lournev was missing headliners Chris Evert Lloyd Tracy Austin and Billie Jean King
