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McEnroe Tirades End in Arias Win at Seniors Grand Cayman
Posted on April 18, 2008
Sarasota's Jimmy Arias can still rock the forehand -- ask John McEnroe.
The Florida resident and Tennis Channel commentator took advantage of the slow claycourts on Thursday at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships senior tour event, defeating the former world No. 1 7-5, 6-2.
Arias had won only one previous match on the Outback Champions Series, but dictated play on the red clay, frustrating the 49-year-old McEnroe who was given a point penalty due to excessive racquet and
ball abuse.
The angry McEnroe refused to meet with reporters following the match, but Arias quipped, "I've lost to him 735 times. I don't know the exact count but it's many times that I've lost."
Arias was 0-5 versus McEnroe during their ATP days, only once winning a set.
"It's an equalizer when the wind is tricky as it is right now because it's not only going one direction or one speed," said Arias of the gusty conditions. "There are some gusts to it. It felt like I just got the couple lucky breaks at the right time."
In other round-robin matches Thursday, Wayne Ferreira posted a 2-0 record in Group B with a 6-4, 7-6(2) win over Todd Martin, and Paul Haarhuis evened his record at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mikael Pernfors.
Round-robin play continues Friday as Ferreira goes for a 3-0 round-robin record and a berth in Sunday's final against Pernfors, followed by Arias taking on Jim Courier. In the final match on Friday's schedule, McEnroe will play Mats Wilander.
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