University of Virginia Library

McManus, Franulovic Win Doubles

Ashe Tops Franulovic, 6-4, 6-4

By Hugh Antrim
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Arthur Ashe used a strong
serve when he needed it and
consistent ground strokes to
whip Yugoslav Zeljko
Franulovic, 6-4, 6-4, before
some 2,300 tennis enthusiasts
in University Hall last night.

With the games at 3-3 in the
second set, Ashe broke service
when Franulovic double
faulted at 30-40. The two
players then held serve for the
next two games, Ashe driving a
cross-court forehand deep and
out of reach for the
match-winning point.

Dickie Dell teamed with
Ashe in the doubles
competition, and Franulovic
combined forces with Jim
McManus, a surprise addition to the
exhibition. McManus and
Franulovic won the abbreviated
contest, 6-3, 4-6, 7-1 (best of 12
points), dominating the net in the
"sudden death" period.

Because the players were late
getting into Charlottesville, Mr.
Gordon Burris started the
exhibition with a one-set singles
match between Valerie Ziegenfuss,
number nine in Ladies Singles, and
Stephanie De Fina, number eleven.
Miss Ziegenfuss won the event, 6-2.

Ashe, sporting a light blue shirt
under his Davis Cup jacket, was
playing with a racket made
especially for him by the Head Ski
company. A combination of
aluminum and fiber glass, the
racket moved easily and accurately
for Ashe as he graced U-Hall with
the fluid style of play that has him
presently ranked at number three
among men's singles in the United
States.

The clay court champion of this
country, Zeljko Franulovic, hit a
powerful serve off of his wooden
racket, but finally could not keep
pace with the steady play of Ashe.

Ashe broke service in the very
first game of the match, but
Franulovic came back to break
Ashe in the second game. Both of
the players held their serve from
then through the-sixth game, the
score knotted at 3-3. From there,

with Franulovic serving, Ashe ran
off a string of eight straight points
to move to a commanding 5-3 lead.

The lean Yugoslavian held his
serve at love, but Ashe handled his
serve to post a 40-15 advantage in
the final game, forcing Franulovic
to drive a forehand into the net to
end the first set.

Franulovic got into trouble early
in the first set, the games tied at
two, but served his way out of
trouble to avoid a break. Ashe did
not waste his second opportunity,
however. With the score tied 3-3,
Ashe ran up three points to put

Franulovic down 0-40. The
Yugoslav fought back to 30-40, but
double faulted away his chance to
hold serve.

Given new balls and a 5-4
advantage, Ashe blasted his way
from a 30-30 count to win his serve
and the match. After a short
intermission, in which Ashe spent
most of his time willing coke and
signing autographs, the doubles
teams were introduced.

Donald Dell, recently retired
from his post as Davis Cup team
captain, was expected to play in the
doubles, but Jim McManus served
as an able replacement, teaing
with Franulovic to top the
Ashe-Dickie Dell duo, 6-3, 4-6,
7-1 (points).

McManus featured his patented
two-handed backhand, while
Virginia law student Dickie Dell
defied the clothing norms and
flashed his pale yellow shirt around
the court. Ranked number 20 in
the country, Dell was also flashing
around some solid net play to
complement his partner's serve.

With the teams splitting sets, it
was decided to end the deadlock
with a best of 13 point
competition. McManus and
Franulovic won seven of the eight
points played to win the match, the
ball trickling over the net for
Franulovic on the last point.

Both Ashe and Franulovic will
go from here to Richmond
tomorrow for the Fifth Annual
Fidelity Banker's Invitational.
Although last night's exhibition was
the first ever in University Hall, the
encouraging turnout (some 2.300)
might indicate that Mr. Burris can
schedule future matches on a
somewhat annual basis.