European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ducks Wimbledon by Morley Myers London up a third sett Eivan Lendl staged an incredible escape sunday digging himself out of the a graveyard of the greats to scramble into the third Rounett of the $6.5 million Wimbledon championships. Rebounding  the first a a two sets the 31-year-old czechoslovak then recovered from 2-4 Down in the decider to beat american Mulivai Washington 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 after a titanic 3-hour, 17-minute struggle. While Lendl was battling for survival one round behind his rivals swedish title Holder Stefan Edberg and fourth seeded american Jim courier were coasting through to the last 16. The top seeded Edberg Champion in 1988 and 1990, played a flawless serve and Volley game to destroy South african Christo Van Rensburg 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, while French open Champion courier claimed an even More emphatic 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 third round Victory Over Frenchman Arnaud Boetsch. Wimbledon a notorious no. 2. Court known As the a graveyard of seeds a had witnessed the downfall of 1987 Champion Pat Cash on saturday night to follow the likes of Hie Nastast Vitas Gerulaitis John Mcenroe and  n of in previous years. V a Lendl a still chasm his first Wimbledon Crown to add to his eight grand. Slam titles a looked As though he would become its latest victim sunday in what would have been his earliest exit in a grand slam tournament since his 1981 first round Wimbledon defeat against australian Charlie Fancutt. But Washington 22 last week and ranked 68th in the world saw his serve desert him just when he needed it most particularly in the eighth game of the decisive fifth set when he double faulted to give Lendl break Point. The czechoslovak won the game with another blistering return to even the set at 4-4, this was just the Spur Lendl needed. Another double fault provided Lendl with his first match Point in the 10th game but Washington survived that to pull even at 5-5. Lendl had match Point again in the 12th game after a Brilliant backhand passing shot from the Baseline landed just inside Washington a court and he clinched Victory this time with an unplayable return of serve. Lendl said he Wasny to haunted by the Specter of court 2 or the fact Cash had been Defeated there saturday night. A you done to worry about it. You just try to figure out Why you Are not playing As Well As you would Ike to and concentrate on the next  Lendl said coming Back from two sets Down was no new experience. A i Felt i inside sports promoters Are Tyson a next fight a Page 22 Paris Likely to join Olaf Page 25 winning Streak ends for Erickson a Page 26 Naples wins Small units softball Page 27 the stars and stripes july 1,1991 Page 28 l could still win it today. I have won some from two sets Down and lost some too. You can say a lot of things about me but done to say i  Edberg who has contested the last three finals with German Ace Boris Becker continued to impress with his easy Progress through to the last 16. Sundays stroll against the experienced Van Rensburg was his third straight sets win and the 25-year-old swede has Only dropped 25 games. A i have not really had a Tough match so far but in a sure they Are going to come sooner or later a said Tolfe Champion whose next opponent is three time Winner John Mcenroe the no. 16 seed. The 32-year-old new York Southpaw who won his Wimbledon titles in 1981, 1983 and 1984, outgunned Frenchman Jean Philippe Leurian 6-2, 7-6 7-46-1. But there was no Joy for another former Champion 38-year-old Jimmy Connors the oldest player in the tournament. Just one Day after chalking up his 100th Wimbledon singles Connors was beaten 7-6 7-26-1, 6-4 by fellow american Derrick Rostagno. The popular Veteran who won the Wimbledon title in 1974 and 1982, went Down fighting  fashion saving five match Points before finally bowing out. Connors who was originally scheduled to act As a to commentator Here but accepted a wild card to compete was cheered throughout like a conquering hero by the Centre court crowd. On the women a Side defending Champion Martina Navratilova and Jennifer Capriati spanning the Tennis generation Gap advanced to the round of 16 in contrasting fashion. Third seeded Navratilova the 34-year-old Czechoslovakia born american with a record nine Wimbledon singles titles took just 52 minutes to dispatch Italy a Lisa Garroni 6-2, 6-3 in her third round clash. But ninth seeded Capriati at 15 the Ivan Lendl eyes his great escape from 0-2 against american Mulivai Washington. Youngest player in the tournament seemed headed for defeat at a break Down in the final set against Germany a Wiltrud Probst. But the american Prodigy who was not even born when Navratilova made her Wimbledon debut in 1973,. Recovered to win 6-3,1-6, 6-3. A the first set i played Well but All off a sudden i had a total collapse of concentration a Capriati said. After losing her serve to Trail 0-2 in the deciding set the american recalled How she got out of a similar critical situation last year. A at 2-0 i had to get it together. I thought of last year when i was 2-0 Down which was helpful because i knew i could come Back a she said. Second seed Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina found her rhythm right from the Start against czechoslovakian opponent Andrea str Nova winning 6-1,6-3. In an All american clash fifth seeded Mary Joe Fernandez overcame dangerous Floater Pam Shriver 6-3, 7-5 to earn a meeting with no. 16 Judith Weisner a 36, 7-5, 6-1 Winner against Germany s Claudia Kohide Kilsch. Seventh seed Zina Garrison last year s runner up and eighth seeded Manuela male Eva of Bulgaria also made the last 16. Garrison outgunned Sweden a Maria Strandlund 6-3, 6-3, while male Eva dismissed Canadas Patricia by 6-3, 6-4. Exuberant fans air out Centre court Wimbledon England a Centre court turned into a delightful carnival sunday As Wimbledon reluctantly broke 114 years of tradition. As the rain ravaged tournament dropped its one cherished Day of rest unprecedented scenes greeted . Open Champion Gabriela Sabatini when she came out to play Andrea str Nova. Thousands of Young fans joined in a wave that circled the stadium. They counted out loud each stroke of the Warmup roared at every overhead and even gave the bal boys and bal girls a standing ovation. And that was before the match. With fans being admitted on a first come first serve basis 12,000 people waited for up to 16 hours to get into the All England club despite Early rain. A it is amazing How Many Young people seem to be in the crowd and How incredibly enthusiastic they Are considering they got absolutely soaked a said Chris Gorringe the tournament director. Martina Navratilova in the locker room when she heard the Centre court fans wished she had been out there. A i was jealous. I saw them doing the wave. It was awesome a the nine time Champion said. Sabatini said it was fun playing before such enthusiastic fans. A when we were warming up they were very excited a she said. A i could t Stop