Upset strewn event with only No. 4 Horvath from the top seeds advancing beyond the QF. The biggest shock is caused on Wednesday night by No. 41 Casale, handing Mandlikova her only loss in 18 matches. Marsikova was supposed to make her return to the Tour following her 1983 incarceration but Czech government officials wouldn’t release her passport just yet.
Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort – Hana Mandlikova was the runner-up in last year’s Avon Cup tourney, losing to Jaeger 6-1, 6-3 in the final. “I like Marco Island and thought I played well last year,” she said. “I hope to win the championships now. I’m ready.”
Despite Mandlikova’s fast start this season, the tournament’s top seed went to Garrison, a 20-year-old from Houston. Currently ranked seventh in the world, Garrison got the nod over Temesvari, No. 8, and Mandlikova, No. 9.
Hana Mandlikova launched her bid to win the $100,000 tournament Tuesday night with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Kathrin Keil. Keil played unexpectedly tough throughout the match and kept returning Mandlikova’s strong forehand. Hana said she did not serve well during the match.
Fashion moment : After 4 years under Ellesse gear, Hana is now endorsing Le Coq Sportif, for the first time here in Marco Island.
The tournament continues through Sunday at the Marriott Marco Beach Resort Mandlikova, a two-time champion already this year with Virginia Slims tour victories this month in both Washington and Oakland, seemed to have plenty of momentum entering this tournament She easily dispatched Kathrin Kell in the first round on Tuesday, but Casale stayed right with the Czech, ranked No. 5 in the world, during the well-played match. During one exchange, Mandlikova went sprawling after a return, got up and eventually won the point but Casale would not let Mandllkova’s aggressive game sway her. “My strategy was to keep the ball in constant play and hit mainly to Hana’s backhand and It paid off,” said Casale, ranked No. 32 in the world after her upset “I knew I could beat her.”
Hana Mandlikova, who moved up to No. 5 on the WTA computer after winning the Virginia Slims of Washington and the Slims of California, dispensed with the congratulatory handr.hake after Pam Casale upset her 7-6, 7-6 in the Avon Cup Wednesday night “I did not like the way she acted. She complained the entire match,” Mandlikova said. “She should just play tennis.” Mandlikova received a rousing cheer from the crowd as she left the court . . .
Pam Casale then lost in QF to the eventual winner, Bonnie Gadusek.
Bonnie Gadusek defeated fellow Floridian Kathy Horvath, 3-6, 6-0,- 6-4, to win the Avon Cup tournament. Gadusek went to the net effectively several times with drop shots, but lost the first set in 45 minutes. It took only 20 minutes for Gadusek to win the second set. In the doubles final, Hana Mandlikova and Helena Sukova defeated Andrea Jaeger and Anne Hobbs, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in front of a sell out crowd of 4,000
BARRY MCDERMOTT
April 9, 1984
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
After Washington, Andrea and Roland went through a sorting-out period, not unlike those that, Andrea maintains, other parents and children go through when the kids feel ready to make their own decisions. Andrea says that Hana Mandlikova was partly responsible for restoring the close relationship between her and her father. She and Mandlikova had a talk on the beach during the Marco Island tournament. “You find out you can’t trust people,” Mandlikova told her. “Your parents always have been with you and helped you.” That night, Andrea called Roland, who was at home, and asked him to join her at the tournament.
GO BACK TO THE 1984 EVENTS LIST
(Article compiled from : Inside Women’s Tennis, John Dolan’s Womens Tennis 68-84, The Orlando Sentinel, The Tampa Tribune, Fort Lauderdale News, News Press Fort Myers.)
