Delray Beach International Tennis Championships Day 2
McEnroe defeats Berger in ATP Champions Tour matchup
Johne McEnroe during play Saturday evening.
By David Sedore, Palm Beach Business.com
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Click here for the tournament's Day 1 coverage.)
DELRAY BEACH — John McEnroe quickly dispelled any notion that the competitive fires that helped make him champion have dimmed as he dispatched Jay Berger in straight sets (6-3, 6-3) Saturday evening at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.
McEnroe questioned the eyesight of the linesmen with one of his infamous “you cannot be serious” assaults, repeatedly swung his racket at the ground when he missed shots and even asked the umpire for a challenge on one debatable call well aware that there are no challenges in this tournament.
Berger, a last-minute replacement for Jimmy Arias, who injured his hamstring in a match Friday against Todd Martin, played McEnroe evenly for a while but he was done in by a series of unforced errors and a couple of untimely foot faults. Tied 3-3 in the second set, McEnroe broke Berger’s serve and just blew him away.
Afterwards, McEnroe credited Berger with for playing well despite the circumstances. McEnroe said Berger seemed to have his serve timed, which forced McEnroe “to go for more and more angles.”
“Jay hit the ball really well,” McEnroe said.
Berger, who grew up in Plantation and lives in Miami, said he was at the ATP tournament “coaching a couple of kids” when he was asked to step in for Arias.
“I grew up here,” Berger said. “It’s great to play a legend of the game.”
The two men have a bit of a history: McEnroe defeated Berger in 1989 for his 75th grand prix title.
Earlier in the evening, Boca Raton resident Aaron Krickstein defeated Todd Martin in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.
Boca Raton resident Aaron Krickstein Saturday evening.
“I played very well,” Krickstein said. “I got a lot of first serves in and I got into a good rhythmn. It’s fun to come out and compete again. Obviously we’re not as good as we used to be but still it’s a lot of fun.”
Martin said his Friday night victory over Arias took something out of him. Near match point, a fan yelled “come on, Todd.”
Martin replied, “It’s a bit late for that.”
In other results Saturday, Mark Philippoussis defeated Mats Wilander 6-4, 6-3, evening his record in pool play of the eight-player field to 1-1. Pat Cash won over Mikael Pernfors 3-6, 6-3 (10-6).
Sunday’s schedule:
Pat Cash vs Mats Wilander, 1 p.m.
Mark Philippoussis vs. Mikael Pernfors, 3 p.m.
Aaron Krickstein vs. Jay Berger, 5:30 p.m.
John McEnroe vs. Todd Martin, 7:30 p.m.
