McEnroe breezes in opening match

NEW YORK John McEnroe, a four-time champion turned underdog,breezed to an opening-round victory in the U.S. Open Tuesday whileMats Wilander and Stefan Edberg moved a step closer to a SwedishGrand Slam.

McEnroe, whose last Grand Slam title came in the 1984 Open, beatLeonardo Lavalle 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at the National Tennis Center.

"It could have been 6-1, 6-1 (in the last two sets)," saidMcEnroe, who is seeded 16th, his lowest Open ranking since 1977.

In night matches, No. 5 Boris Becker beat Todd Nelson 6-3, 6-0,7-6 (7-5) and No. 10 Henri Leconte downed Javier Frana 6-4, 3-6, 6-3,6-4.

In women's play, No. 2 seed Martina Navratilova opened her …