Tennis Roundup : An Easy Victory in Rome Has Lendl a Bit Worried, He Says

Top-seeded Ivan Lendl is playing so well, it has him concerned.

Lendl, the No. 1 tennis player in the world, coasted past Damir Keretic of West Germany, 6-0, 6-3, Wednesday in the second round of the $495,000 Italian Open at Rome.

“I think I’m playing very well,” Lendl said, adding that he doesn’t want to peak before the French Open later this month. “I’m a little worried that I’m playing too well. In a way, it would be better if I lost a match, though I’m not going to try to do that. Perhaps if I lost one, it would knock me down and force me to get up again.”

Sixth-seeded John McEnroe, playing in the tournament for the first time, beat Horacio de la Pena of Argentina, 6-2, 6-4.

“There’s been a lot of talk over the years, but it’s really nice to play here finally,” McEnroe said. “I always felt people in Italy supported me. I figured if I didn’t play an Italian I’d be OK.”

Second-seeded Mats Wilander of Sweden overwhelmed Luiz Mattar of Brazil, 6-2, 6-1, and fifth-seeded Henri Leconte of France rallied to overcome Sergio Casal of Spain, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Steffi Graf of West Germany posted her 28th straight singles victory by beating Janine Thompson of Australia, 6-4, 6-1, in the second round of the $150,000 German International at Berlin.

In a second-round upset, Silke Meier of West Germany defeated Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, No. 5 in the world, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.