Eliminated at U.S
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Gerulaitis WFfWtKBKMk flSIEr ; I eliminated at U.S. Open NEW YORK (UPI) - Hank Pfister, after blowing a two-se- t lead, ouidueled Vitas Gerulai- tis to win a fifth set tie-bre- ak 8--6 Thursday night and eliminate the fifth-seede- d New Yorker from the ILS. OpenTennis Championships. Struggling for three hours on a humid night, Pfister shook off a stirring comeback by Geru- laitis, last year's losing finalist, to win the second- -round match 6-- 3, 6-- 2, 3-- 6, 1-- 6, 7--6. UntO Gerulaitis sent a backhand wide for the match point, no more than a single point sepa- rated the two men in the tie-brea- k. In the final match of the night, Chris Evert Lloyd, the third seed, met Peanut Louie. Gerulaitis, despite a superb comeback in which he won seven consecutive games from 3--3 in the third set, and 10 of 11, thus became the fifth seeded man to be eliminated. He also was the third to fall on Thursday, following No. 8 Eddie Dibbs and No 9 Peter Fleming. In contrast, top seeds Bjorn Borg and Tracy Austin were comfortable winners in sweltering afternoon heat. Borg, a man who generally anticipates trou- ble in the early going of any major champion- ship, defeated John Sadri, 7-- 5, 6-- 2, 2-- 6, 6-- 0, and Austin, playing in temperature that reached 116 degrees, hardly had time to concern herself with the heat as she routed Rcsie Casals, 64), 6-- 0. Ever the gracious young lady, Austin insisted later, "Rose's a very tough second-roun-d match." Borg made the only break of the opening set in the 11th game on a double fault by Sadn, and had his own service broken only twice, both in the third set But following the short lapse, Borg was in complete control in the final set Not so fortunate were eighth seed Eddie Dibbs and No. 9 Peter Fleming among the men and the 16th seeded woman, Regina Marsikova. Dibbs, who had to play a five-s- et match Tues- day night, fell to Vrjay Amntraj of India, 7--5, 0-- 6, 4-- 6, 6-- 2, 6-- 1, and Fleming, calling himself 'the poorest excuse for an athlete of all time," offered little resistance in losing to South Afri- can Johan Knek, 64, 6-- 2, 6--0. Marsikova, the fourth seeded woman to be' lost, fell to Joanne Russell, 6--2, 6--3. Russell, a Tracy Austin two-fis-ts a return in win over 25-year-- her Rosie Casals old Flondian and a noted doubles play- er, was down 0-- 2 and 15-4- 0 in the second set, but minutes to outlast Austrian Peter FeigL 64, 2--6, the second round match and only once came held her serve and dropped only one more 3-- 6, 64, 6-- 3. Fibak was trailing 4--2 in the fourth close to breaking Knek game. set, then won seven consecutive games. Gmllermo Vilas, the fourth seed, and No 11 Yannick Noah, the 15th seed, reached the Fleming, ranked ninth in the world although Roscoe Tanner each won in three sets. Vilas, third round with a four-s- et victory over Bruce he's better known as John McEnroe's doubles the 1977 Open champion, defeated John Hayes, Manson, and among the women, No 11 Kathy partner, offered a simple explanation for his 6--2, 64, 64, and Tanner beat Jimmy Anas, 6-- 3, Jordan, No. 13 Pam Shnver and No. 14 Ivanna abysmal showing 6-3,6- -0. Madruga of Argentina all won in straight sets "If anyone saw the match they understood Wojtek Fibak, the 14th seed, narrowly avert- to gain the third round. what happened, that I wasrouted'Tie said. "I ed becoming the fifth seeded man to be elimi- Fleming, at 6-- 5 almost a foot taller than his moved like a horse's behind and he played very nated. As it was, he struggled for 3 hours and 15 nval, couldnt get his big serve under control in weU.".