McEnroe returns to0 Player's International tourney WHITBY FREE PRESS WEDNESDAY JULY 16 1986 PAGE 29 TORONTO - John McEnroe, a four-time world champion, has confirmed that he wll return to Canada for the tenth consecutive year eand seek his third stralght Paâyer's Inter- national Tennis Cham- plonshlp, whlch wlll ha held at the National Tennis Centre August 9 ta 17. McEnroe, who cap- tured his second con- secutive Player's Inter- national lait year at Montreal's Jarry Tennis Stadlum when he defeated longthne foe Ivan Lendl, wll retura ta tlhe Nabisco Grand Prix international cir- cuit on August 2 for thie Volvo International at Stratton Mountain, Vermont before travelling to Toronto. McEnroe has been away from competitive play since mld-January when he recelved per- mission from the Men's International Profes- sional Tennis Counedil to take an extended leave of absence. "I'm pleased (bat the Player's International wll ha one of the early tournaments on my return ta competitive play,"' sald McEnroe, who is the proud father 0f'newborn son Kevin Jack. "I've played in thie Player's Inter- national each and every year since 1977 and I'm hoping ta make it three stralghtttles'" John .Beddlngton, 'turnament director of the $525000 Player's Ini- ternational, was elated wlth the announcement that McEnroe was returnlng to (the sport. "There are few players in any sport who have equqaled the achievements of John McEnroe. He's a glfted athlete with tremendous natural ability and genuis and if there's anyone who can return after an extended layoff, it will ha McEnroe. "He's also made it possible for the Player's International to have one of the most im- pressive fields of any tournament on the Grand Prix circuit, in- cludlng (the Grand Slamn events. Wth Ivanendl, Boris Becker, Yannick Noah, Tlm Mayotte and Kevin Curren already conflrmed, we re ec- static that John McEnroe has joined the prestiglous group and wlll provide Canadian tennis fans with a terrific champlonship. " Menaroe, 27, was world champion four consecutive years from 1981 ta 1984 and finlshed second on the computer list lait season. He en- joyed an incredible season in 1984- with a match record of 71 wlns and only two losses, but struggled throughout 1985 despite his back ta back wlns over Lendl at Stratton Mountain and the Player's Inter- national. He also won six other Grand Prix tltles. The U.S. Open proved ta ha the turnlng point of the year for McEnroe as he was defeated handily by Lendl in the final, a vlctory whlch secured the tap ranklng for Len- dl and dropped McEnroe to second position on the list. He aiso ot inthe quarter finals of the 1985 Australlan Open and opened the 1986 cam- paign wlth an openlng round losa (o American Brad Gilbert in the Nabisco Masters at New York's Madison Square Garden. Imrnedlately following that tour- nament, ,McEnroe received permission for his extended leave. A native of Wiesbaden, West Ger- many and resident of New York Cty for mos( of his 11e, McEnroe now lives ln California. He burat upon the tennis world at the 1977 Wim- bledon championships when he reached the semi-finals after advan- cing to tlhe main draw through the qualifying event. Since that time, he's captured three Wimbledon tities, four U.S. Open champion- shlps and a total of 67 tournament victories, second on the ail-time ist to Jimmy Connors' 105. The 1986 Player's In- ternational is organized by Tennis Canada and sponsored by Player's. Series tickets are still available and further in- formation can be ob- tained from the Player's International Ticket Of- fice at (416) 665-9784. Starburger faced off with Picotte Plastics strong performances. Here a mtarburger run- Friday nlght ln women's softball play. Star- ner dusts herself off after stopplng upat third. burger pitcher Verna Littlejohn and Jane No score avallable. Thornton, pitching for Picotte both put ln Free Press Staff Photo Fire Department service Calis The followlng 30 callo were responded ta by the Whtby Fire Depar- tment for the seven day penlod from 8 a.m. Monday', July 7 until 8 a.m. Monday, July 14. JULY7 10: 04 a.m. - 500Beech St. W. Assistance to ambulance. 4:08 p.m. - 1801 Dun- das St. E. Medcal aid. 10:01 p.m. - 508Perry St. Resuscitator. JULY 8 7:31 a.m. - 225 Hckory St. N. Medical ald. 11:06 a.m. - 38 Colette Dr. Check call. 11:23 a.m. - 812 Lit- tleleaf Crt. Natural gas leak. 4:10 p.m. - 1003 Dun- das St. E. Motor vehicle accident. 11: 15 p.m. - 225 Hickory St. N. Assistan- ce ta ambulance. JULY 9 2:54 p.m. - 1506 Wen- tworh St. Building cail. 5:12 p.m. - 1121 Dun- das St. E. Building cail - -peat mou fire. 7:17 p.m. - 1121 Dun- das St. E. Peat moss fire. JULY 10 7:12 a.M. - 23 McClin- tock Crt. Assistance to ambulance. 7:25 a.m. - Taunton Rd. and Brock St. N. Motor vehicle accident. 7:32 a.m. - 163 Dun- das St. E. Check call. 5:40 p.m. - Mary St. and Byron St. N. Building cail. 8:52 p.m. - 101 White Oaks Crt. Public assistance. 1: 12 p.m. - 1645 Dun- das St. E. Check call. 11:56 p.m. - Byron St. S. and Gilhant St. Rub- bish fire. JULYilI 12:11l a.m. - Brock St. N. and Thlckson Rd. Car fire -$3,Oodamage. 6: 42 a.m. - -575 Rossland Rd. E. Power failure. 10:53 a.m. -whitby Yacht Club. Garbage bin lire. 5:15 p.m.- West of White Oaks Crt. Grass SEE PG, 30