French Open : Troubles Follow McEnroe as He Falls in First Round

PARIS — John McEnroe, his serve-and-volley game in a shambles on the slow clay of Roland Garros, was eliminated Tuesday in the first round of the $3-million French Open by Argentina’s Horacio de la Pena, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

“He came up with some great shots, but I beat myself,” McEnroe said.

McEnroe, seeded No. 7, was the first major player to lose in the two-week tournament, which opened Monday. And it was his second consecutive first-round defeat in a Grand Slam tournament.

Last August, McEnroe lost to Paul Annacone in the opening round at the U.S. Open.

McEnroe, who has complained recently of problems with his calf muscles, said of his match with De la Pena: “Physically, I was not up to it. I just didn’t have what it took. To say I’m very disappointed is an understatement.

“I was trying to do some extra work to get ready for the French,” McEnroe said. “I think I overdid it a little bit. I just wasn’t able to move the way I needed to on this court.

“I don’t think it’s anything serious, but it’s bothering me now. It happened at a bad time.”

Two other upsets shook the men’s division when No. 9 Henri Leconte of France and No. 12 Pat Cash of Australia also were ousted.

Leconte was beaten by West Germany’s Ricky Osterthun, 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1. Cash, whose game is more suited to grass, was ousted by Californian Jim Pugh, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6.

Another seeded player to be toppled was Melissa Gurney, No. 9 in the women’s draw, who lost to Australia’s Nicole Provis, 6-4, 6-2.

After his match, McEnroe said he would probably pass up the doubles with Davis Cup teammate Robert Seguso and take 10 days to two weeks of rest in preparation for Wimbledon, which begins June 22.

Two weeks ago, De la Pena lost in straight sets to McEnroe in the Italian Open.

“In Rome he gave me a lesson in chip and charge,” De la Pena said.

McEnroe was playing his first match since being fined for walking off the court in last week’s World Team Cup in West Germany.

His walkout, in a match against Czechoslovakia’s Miloslav Mecir, is being reviewed by the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council. If found guilty of a serious offense, McEnroe could be suspended for up to a year.

“It will be a complete investigation, and we want it to be as thorough as we can and as fair as possible to John McEnroe,” said Marshall Happer, the administrator of the MIPTC. “But whatever the decision, it is not going to happen today, this week or next week. After that, he would have 10 days to respond, and another 10 days after (that, the) decision would be made.”

Therefore, Happer said, McEnroe would be free to play when Wimbledon starts.

McEnroe may not be under any suspension at all if his physical problems are proved.

Advancing in the women’s division Tuesday were No. 1 Martina Navratilova, No. 3 Chris Evert and No. 4 Hana Mandlikova.

Navratilova beat Cathy Tanvier of France, 6-3, 7-6; Evert defeated Eva Pfaff of West Germany, 6-1, 6-3, and Mandlikova ousted Mima Jausovec of Yugoslavia, 6-0, 6-0.

In the men’s field, No. 3 Stefan Edberg of Sweden breezed by Mike Leach, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, but rain halted two key matches that will resume today. No. 2 Boris Becker of West Germany led Uruguay’s Diego Perez, 6-1, 6-1, 1-2, and No. 8 Jimmy Connors led Todd Nelson, 7-5, 6-2, 1-0.