Lendl to help replace Connors on tennis tour

There was little talk of tennis, and that was just fine with Ivan Lendl.

"I'm just with my friends, and we have a good time," he said Wednesday night in a phone interview.

It's a well-deserved break for Lendl, who was on hand Monday when his pupil Murray beat defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in the Flushing Meadows final.

It was Britain's first major men's tennis title since 1936, and Lendl said it went to a worthy champion.

"It's very nice to see when somebody who wanted to work hard and is willing to put the work in gets rewarded for it," he said.

Now Lendl is returning to the court himself to sub for Jimmy Connors on four stops in an upcoming series of matches around the country featuring several former Grand Slam champions.

Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras also are in the group of competitors scheduled to take part in the four-player mini-tournaments. Each event will feature one-set semifinals and a one-set title match.

"I enjoy playing every now and then," the 52-year-old Lendl said. "I don't want to play too much. It's too hard on my body."

Connors is out with a hip injury, so Lendl is planning to compete in Chicago, Detroit, Boston and San Jose, Calif. Michael Chang will fill in when the series comes to Surprise, Ariz.; Tampa, Fla.; and Atlanta.