McEnroe Slides by Pernfors at Seniors Newport

Posted on August 24, 2007

NEWPORT, R.I. -- John McEnroe needed a 10-8 Match Tie-Break to defeat Mikael

Pernfors of Sweden 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 (Match Tie-Break) in his opening

round-robin match Thursday at the Gibson Guitar Champions Cup at the

International Tennis Hall of Fame. Also winning round-robin matches Thursday

were Todd Martin, who defeated fellow Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., resident

MaliVai Washington 6-1, 6-4 and Pat Cash of Australia, who defeated Cedric

Pioline of France 7-6 (2), 6-2.

McEnroe, 48, struggled from the outset in his first competitive singles

match on a grass court since Wimbledon in 1992, but, inspired by an

enthusiastic crowd, rallied to win by the two-point margin.

"My play was horrible for a while," said McEnroe, whose final Davis Cup

singles performance came at Newport in 1991. "Pernfors was playing great and

I was not feeling quite comfortable...I am optimistic that I will get better

each day. It is going to get tougher. I need to play better, and soon!"

McEnroe will next face Pioline in round robin play Friday, with the winner

of the match guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish. Martin already

clinched a spot in either Sunday's championship or third place match win his

win over Washington that gave him a 2-0 round robin record. Washington wowed

Martin, and the crowd, by sporting Rafael Nadal-style "clam-digger" pants on

court during the match.

Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, made his Gibson Guitar debut in the day's

opening match, defeating Pioline, who dropped to 1-1 in round-robin play in

his first Outback Champions Series event.