Lloyd Defeats Tim Gullikson, Faces Brother Tom in Final

NEWPORT BEACH — When Tim Gullikson broke John Lloyd’s serve to take a 3-2 lead in the first set of the semifinals in the Prudential Bache Grand Championships, it looked to be a key game in the match.

Unfortunately for Gullikson, it was.

Gullikson held his serve to go up 4-2, but it was Lloyd who rallied around Gullikson’s break to tie the set at 4-4. Lloyd eventually won the first set in a 10-8 tiebreaker and went on to a 7-6, 6-4 victory at the Newport Beach Tennis Club.

The victory means Lloyd will face Tom Gullikson, Tim’s brother, in the singles final at 1 p.m. today. Lloyd and doubles partner Hank Pfister, who defeated Peter Fleming and Marty Riessen, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3, will play for the doubles championship against Tim and Tom Gullikson, who defeated Ross Case and Jaime Fillol 6-2, 6-2, in the semifinals.

But it was Lloyd’s doubles victory that almost cost him his singles match.

“My mind was wandering a little and I wasn’t fully in the match until I was down 4-2,” Lloyd said. “I started making excuses for myself saying, ‘I just finished a two-hour match,’ or ‘My leg is sore and my elbow is sore,’ but then I tried focusing and told myself to run down every ball.

“Before the (service) break I was sort of hoping he’d make a mistake instead of trying to make things happen,” Lloyd said. “I play better when I make things happen.”

Lloyd started to make things happen by landing more of his first serves--he struggled at 50% for the first set--and using “my bread and butter,” his backhand, more effectively.

Lloyd rallied to tie the set and won the tiebreaker after trailing 5-6.

Lloyd led, 5-3, in the second set. Gullikson held serve, but Lloyd won the final game with an overhand smash.