44 (Edberg)
came out flying

and ... Showed
why he’s
number one in
the world. 99

- Grant Connell

TWO GLOBETROTTING
North Shore herces return-
ed to Vancouver last
weekend for rare perfor-
mances before hometown
audiences.

By Bob Mackin Jr.
Contributing Writer

Bryan Adams rocked the
Pacific Coliseum for the first time
since 1985 on Friday night and
next door at the Agrodome, Grant
Connell led Canada’s Davis Cup
tennis team in a weekend-long
playoff against Sweden — his first
matches here since Canada
defeated Brazil two years ago.

But Connell’s return wasn’t as
triumphant as Adams’, although it
was equally entertaining.

In Davis Cup action, the
underdog Canadians wen the first
two matches only to lose the next
three as Sweden advanced to the
world group quarter-finals against
Australia.

Connell, the 26-year-old left-
handed Argyle Secondary gradu-
ate who trained at North Shore
Winter Club, had a win and a loss
in singles on Friday and Sunday,
respectively. Connell, and partner
Glena Michibata, also lost in
Saturday's doubles match.

But Daniel Nestor — an
unknown 19-year-old Toronto-
nian ranked 238th — stoie the
limelight from team ace Connell.

The Davis Cup rookie guaran-
teed himself a promotion with a
five-set marathon toppling of No.
I-ranked Stefan Edberg on Fri-
day. He nearly duplicated the feat
on Sunday when he took Magnus
Gustafsson to a fifth set, but lost
match point on a double fault.

Connell opened the weekend
with a three-set sweep of 15th-
ranked Gustafsson 7-6, (7-5), 6-
4, 6-4.

“I was pretty nervous,’’ said

Barker’s return helps

SPARKED BY the return of
Jill Barker, playing just her se
cond game this year, the No:
thwest Vancouver Ringetre
Association (NWVRA) Belle
“A”'s defeated the Deb “A™'s

ms

- photo Nell Lucente
FORMER Nerth Shore resident and top Canadian tennis player Grant Connell put up a first-rate battle but lost

to Sweden's Stefan Edberg in a tiebreaker in Davis Cup action ever the weekend.

Connell. ‘! was giving Nestor a
hard time before the match
because he was a lot more calm
than I was, and it was kind of
getting me mad. 1 was trying to
say things to make him nervous,
but it wouldn’t work!"’

Although the 25-year-old
Swede got off to a quick 3-1 lead
and eventually forced a tiebreaker
in the first set, Connell, ranked
No. 76, battled back and gained
control for the rest of the match.

On Saturday, Edberg and
Anders Jarryd narrowed Canada’s
2-0 lead and avoided elimination
with a three-sets-to-one doubies
victory.

Connell and Michibata, the
fourth best duo in the world, won
the first set 6-3. But the Swedes,
who hadn’t played together for
three years, came back in the se-
cond set 6-3 and went on to win
with 6-4 scores in the third and
fourth.

“Stefan was probably down
from (Friday) and Jarryd picked
him up. It took them a while to
gel, but once they did they were

from the North Shore Winter
Club 3-2.

In a tight defensive game the
goaltending of T.R. Marlyk
Kept her team in the game

tough to stop,”’ Connell said.

Edberg brought the momentum
from the doubles match into Sun-
day morning’s tete-a-tete with
Connell. Edberg breezed through
the first two sets with 6-2 scores,
but a rejuvenated Connell engaged
him in a see-saw battle in the
third set before succumbing in the
tiebreaker.

‘I’m never really happy to lose,
but he came out flying, and I
wasn't expecting some of the shots
he made, but he really picked up
his game and showed why he’s
number one in the world,’’ said
Connell.

Connell, now 6-2 in Davis Cup
singles and 6-5 in doubles, was
disappointed he was unable to
deliver another win to the partisan
crowd.

‘I have some bittersweet feel-
ings...It’s not every day | beat
someone who is ranked number 15
in the world, so I've got to be
happy with that,’’ said Connell.

“{ don’t think we've ever had a
better crowd for Davis Cup. They
were a loud, but classy, crowd.””

Belle A’s

while stalward defensiwe play
from red sticks, Barker, Jil
Calkins Liz Foecant, Fiona
Smith and Kristee Watson
allowed the NWVRA girls to
come away with the victory.

LSTAR SPORTS

749 Park Royal North, West Vancouver

PRESENTS
" An Evening With "

GRANT CONNELL

Of the North Shore Winter Club
Canada's #1 Ranked Tennis Player

Here to chat about the Davis Cup, professional tennis,
and to autograph: a limited number of photographs
supplied by ALLSTAR SPORTS and PRINCE

Also in attendance will be

Dr. Dave Cox
Sports Psychologist

Currently working with the Davis Cup Team
To discuss the “mental aspects” in relation to your game

Gord Wareham

Representing PR/NCE Canada
Will be available to answer any of your guestions regarding
the exciting new line of Prince Tennis racquets

Feb. 6, Thursday night 7:00 to 9:00 PM
at

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Located in the PARK ROYAL shopping centre
(North side}

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 922-2115