Tennis Roundup : No Doubt About It: McEnroe Beats Connors for Second Title in a Row

The “Mac Attack” is back with a flourish.

John McEnroe, playing his best tennis since returning from a 6 1/2-month layoff, won his second straight tournament Sunday night, beating Jimmy Connors, 7-6, 6-3, in the $289,000 Transamerica tournament at San Francisco.

The world’s former No. 1 player, who took time off from the tennis tour while his wife, actress Tatum O’Neal, had a baby, showed all the skills and the concentration he had displayed in years past.

McEnroe, who won last week’s L.A. Volvo tournament after getting knocked out in the first round of the U.S. Open earlier this month, earned his biggest paycheck this year with the $44,000 top prize.

“It was a hard-fought match and he made me work for it,” said McEnroe, who dealt out 10 aces.

McEnroe’s victory was his 10th in a row against the 34-year-old Connors over a three-year span and his 19th in 31 career meetings.

Playing in his fifth tournament since his return, McEnroe had said he would know when he was getting back near the top of his game when he started winning a few tournaments.

“I’m glad I did what I set out to do,” he said.

Connors, who collected $22,000 at runner-up, said he’s still trying to get used to his new prototype mid-size racket. “My tennis is fine, but I’m just not quite satisfied yet,” he said.

Top-seeded Pam Shriver won the last four games to beat Bonnie Gadusek, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, for the championship in a $100,000 invitational tournament at San Diego.

Shriver, ranked No. 5 in the world, earned $20,000 and a new Audi 5000S in the four-day, eight-player event at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Gadusek, ranked No. 8, earned $12,500.

“I’m very excited to win this tournament, especially the new car,” Shriver said.

Said Gadusek: “After I won the second set I said, ‘Wow, if I win the next set I win a car.’ It was like playing on a game show. It’s fun. But Pam put her service game together. Her first serve is one of the best in the game.”

At Tulsa, Okla, Lori McNeil defeated Beth Herr, 6-0, 6-1, to win the $13,000 top prize in a Virginia Slims tournament. Herr received $6,400.

McNeil also gained 150 Virginia Slims points, putting her in 10th place in the race for the Virginia Slims World Championships in Madison Square Garden in November.

Kent Carlsson of Sweden won the $225,000 Conde de Godo tournament at Barcelona, Spain, defeating Andreas Maurer of West Germany, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0, in 1 hour 50 minutes.