Those who came to watch champions in decline might have regretted the wisdom of their decision. While John McEnroe lived up to his billing as the main act at the Point and the most likely to take home the lion's share of the $150,000 prize fund, Bjorn Borg fell to Frenchman Henri Leconte to dampen his chances of claiming part of the Sunday final spotlight in Dublin's first Seniors' Tour event.

McEnroe typically controlled the stage as his opponent, Swede Mikael Pernfors, busied himself for most of the 54-minute match fetching.

Brooding and menacing, McEnroe was not in hit-and-giggle mood and would have finished the match quicker had he not briefly lost the groove in the second set. It was what the crowd of 2,000 had paid to see.

On one close call the number one turned to umpire Ciaran O'Donovan and asked: "Was that long?" O'Donvan nodded. "How long?" demanded the New Yorker.

"About as long as your flight here to Dublin," came a shout from the crowd. A scowl settled the issue as McEnroe continued to demonstrate both the intensity and competitiveness with which he approaches these games.

"The reason some guys won't join the Seniors' Tour is because of the size of their pot bellies," he offered before going on to put the boot into the tournament contrivance of playing tie-breaks after two sets.

"I'm always complaining about it. I wish someone would support me. The fitter guys want to play five sets. What's wrong with that?" he said.

What has emerged in the two press conferences that McEnroe has now given in Dublin is his reluctance to be part of anything that lacks credibility. In that respect, he is trying to set standards.

"We should bring in new opponents," he said. "Bring them on. I think Becker is the key to this. He would help guys coming through. Without Becker coming on board I think this tour will be difficult to sustain."

Henri Leconte touched an historic nerve in the afternoon session when he shared sets with Bjorn Borg before winning 10-5 in the tie-break.

Leconte was the last player to beat the Swede before he retired from the game in 1983 at the age of 26. Borg's departure then was a sensation. Still in his prime, he had won five consecutive Wimbledon titles and six consecutive French Opens. He came back a year later when Leconte was again the last player to face him. Borg then walked away from tennis for almost six years.

"From 1976 to 1981, he (Borg) was unplayable. Yes, I remember the match in Monte Carlo," said Leconte.

"There were 150 photographers and I had to play him. I was in there shitting my pants. For me he was the best player. When he stopped there was a big hole in the regular tour. What he won was . . . incredible."

The defeat will be a disappointment to those who wanted a nostagic final. The 36-year-old Frenchman, having gone on a "health binge" 18 months ago, is 12 kilos lighter than he was on the regular tour and his game is sharp. Borg, at 43, is also in immaculate condition, the same weight as he was at the peak of his career.

"I can run around the court. That's no problem to me because I've always kept myself fit," said Borg. "But when he whacks the ball on the line, there is not much you can do. I know I can play a little bit better than today."