Tennis: Borg puts up a good display

BJORN BORG'S most successful tournament appearance so far in his comeback, the US Professional Championships at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, ended with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 quarter-final defeat at the hands of Alexander Volkov, the world No 22 from Russia.

Borg, though, produced an encouraging fight back in the final set after trailing 0-4. The 36-year- old Swede, now ranked 920th in the world, broke Volkov, saved three match points at 3-5, and fought back to 5-5 before Volkov took the match after the final game went to five deuces.

'I made a good effort,' Borg said. 'Every match I feel a little bit more confident. That's why I have to play more matches.'

Volkov, however, then lost his semi-final match, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, against Richey Reneberg. In Saturday's other semi-final, Ivan Lendl, the world No 12, defeated MaliVai Washington 6-4, 7-6.