1.
GV INTERIOR Ilie Nastase (in the dark shorts) serving at 5-3 in the second set with three set points. Fine smash by Frew McMillan (wearing white cap) saves first set point
0.10

2.
SV bald-headed Bob Hewitt ZOOM OUT TO GV Nastase who wins second set 6-3 with forehand which travels between opponents as crowd applaud (TWO SHOTS)
0.29

3.
SV Sherwood Stewart preparing to serve 5-2 up in final set, ZOOM OUT TO GV Hewitt fails with return to give Nastase and Stewart three match points, then Stewart serves wide to Hewitt whose return is put away by Nastase to give his team the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Players go to net to congratulate each other
1.42



Initials KM/0100


SPORT: TENNIS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Tennis.....and Wednesday's (3 January) opening day of the richest ever world doubles championships in London produced a number of shock results. The total purse for the tournament is 200,000 dollars (100,000 pounds) with the winning pair sharing 80,000 dollars (40,000 pounds). The British pairing of Mark Cox and David Lloyd avenged their recent defeat in the Davis Cup final with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory over former world champions, Stan Smith and Bob Lutz. The scratch pairing of Ilie Nastase and Sherwood Stewart produced another surprise, beating current Wimbledon champions, Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

SYNOPSIS: Hewitt and McMillan confidently took the first set. But in the second, Nastase in the dark shorts, served at 5-3 with three set points. McMillan, wearing his familiar cap, saved the first with a fine smash. But there was nothing he could do about Nastase's top spin forehand drive.

Nastase and Stewart raced to a 5-2 lead in the final set. The American Stewart arrived from Australia only three hours before the match, but served strongly throughout.

McMillan prepares to receive with his opponents holding three match points. The veteran South African pair seemed to lose their way after taking the first set comfortably. Again McMillan shows his competitive spirit by saving the first match point with this backhand volley.

But the end of the match was imminent. Stewart's angled serve gave Nastase the simple task of putting away Hewitt's return t win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. For Nastase and Stewart, who had never played together before it was an encouraging start to the five-day tournament. The South African pair must now win their other two matches in the round robin tournament to qualify for Saturday's (6 January) semi-finals, and to gain a chance to win the 40,000 pounds (80,000 dollars) first prize.