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Home , Andrea Jaeger, Chris Evert, Harold Solomon, John Lloyd (tennis), John McEnroe, Pam Shriver

The Harris Survey

For Release: Thursday AM, September 3rd, 1981 1981. 71 ISS'" 0273-1037 BORG AND EVERT-LLOYD FAVORITES AT U.S. OPEN

By Louis Harris

America's fans will be rooting for Bjorn Borg and -Lloyd to win this year's U.S. Open. By wide margins, those who follow tennis say the Swedish star and Evert-Lloyd are their favorite players today.

Tennis has scored a spectacular gain among sports fans this year, with the number who say they follow the sport rising from 37 percent to 43 percent since February. The baseball strike prompted a number of fans to start watching tennis on TV and reading more about the sport in newspapers and magazines. A record number is expected to follow this year's U.S. Open as the tournament enters its final stages next week. Five years ago, only 26 percent of sports fans followed tennis.

Among the 464 tennis fans interviewed in this Harris Survey between July 8 and July 12, the most popular players in the sport today are:

--Among the men, 40 percent name Bjorn Borg as their favorite player, compared with 18 percent who single out John McEnroe, who won the last two U.S. Opens and ended Borg's long reign at Wimbledon this summer. Another 18 percent of American fans named as their favorite men's tennis pro. All other top male tennis players finish far behind these three.

Americans particularly like Borg for his good sportsmanship on the court. By 86-8 percent, tennis fans agree with the statement that "although he may be quiet, Borg has both superb talent and sportsmanship and sets a fine example for young people." At the same time, a 70-21 percent majority denies the charge that the Swede may "behave well on the court, but his game is too mechanical and even boring."

In contrast to Borg, ~cEnroe's tactics on the court don't set well with fans. By 62-32 percent, a 2-to-l majority agrees with the criticism that "while McEnroe is a great player, his behavior in protesting calls and in insulting tennis officials proves he is a poor sport and a discredit to tennis." A razor-thin 48-47 percent plurality does agree, however, that McEnroe is such a good player to watch, that it is best to ignore his tantrums on the court."

McEnroe has made an effort lately to behave better during matches, but most fans fully expect another outburst sometime during the U.S. Open this week and next. If he were able to dispel his spoiled-brat image, McEnroe could become one of the most popular U.S. tennis stars in the history of the sport. --Among women players, Chris Evert-Lloyd dominates in popularity, named by 55 percent of all tennis fans as their favorite. at 9 percent finishes a distant second, followed by Hana Mandlikova, , Andrea Jeager and , each with only 1 percent.

The victor in five previous U.S. Opens, Evert-Lloyd has now become the "older generation" of women tennis players. For many years, as a youthful phenom, she was criticized for playing too mechanically. But since her marriage to and her comeback this year, she has soared in popularity and will be the fans' favorite this week and next at Flushing Meadows.

This latest Harris Survey also shows that the former "old lady" of tennis, , remains popular despite the controversy over her public admission of having had an affiar with her female secretary. By 78-18 percent, a majority of tennis fans feels that Billie Jean is a "credit to the game." It is significant that the recent spate of stories about King, Navratilova and some others being involved in homosexual activity has not dulled fan interest in the sport.

(over) THE HARRIS SURVEY September 3rd, 1981 -2­

TAB L E S

Between July 8 and July 12, the Harris Survey asked a cross section of 1,094 sports fans by telephone:

"Do you follow tennis or not?"

TREND ON FOLLOWING TENNIS

Total Fans %

July 1981 43 Feb. 1981 37 1978 31 1977 30 1976 26 1974 26 1973 17

Then, 464 tennis fans were asked:

"Who is your favorite tennis player among the top men P~Os?"

FAVORITE MALE TENNIS PLAYER

%

Bjorn Borg 40 John McEnroe 18 Jimmy Connors 18 1 X Jose Clerc Other 4 None; not sure 19

(Note: X less than 0.5 percent; - = no response)

"Let me read you some statements about John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, who are now rated as the top two men stars in tennis. For each, tell me if you agree or disagree."

STATEMENTS ABOUT MCENROE AND BORG

Not Disagree Sure McEnroe Comments % -%-

While McEnroe is a great player, his behavior in protesting calls and in insulting tennis officials proves he is a poor sport and a discredit to tennis. 62 32 6

McEnroe is such a good player to watch that it is best to ignore his tantrums on the court. 48 47 5

con tin u e d THE HARRIS SURVEY September 3rd, 1981

-3­

STATEMENTS ABOUT MCENROE ~~D BORG (CONT'D)

Not Agree Disagree Sure -"% % -%- Borg Comments

Although he may be quiet, Borg has both superb talent and sports­ manship and sets a fine example for young people. 86 8 6 Bjorn Borg may behave well on the court, but his game is too mechanical and even boring. 21 70 9

"Mong the top women tennis pros, who is your favorite player?"

FAVORITE WOMAN TENNIS PLAYER

%

Chris Evert-Lloyd 55 Tracy Austin 9 Hana Mandlikova 1 Martina Navratilova 1 I Pam Shriver I !1ima Jausovec Sylvia Ilanika Other 8 Non~; not sure 24

"As you know, Billie Jean King broadcast the Wimbledon Tennis Championship for NBC, which decided to stick with her after she had admitted she had an affair with her woman secretary back when she was an active player. All in all, do you feel that Billie Jean King is a credit to tennis or not?"

BILLIE JEAN KING CREDIT TO TENNIS?

%

Is a credit to tennis 78 Is not a credit 18 Not sure 4

METHODOLOGY

This Harris Survey was conducted by telephone with a representative nationwide cross section of tennis fans 18 and over at 464 different sampling points within the between July 8 and July 12. Figures for age, sex and race were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the populations.

In a sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within plus or minus 4.5 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled.

This statement conforms to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

(c) 1981 The Tribune World Rights Reserved Chicago Tribune-~.Y. News Syndicate, Inc. 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017

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