Australian Open : Becker Finally Wins in 5 Sets; Noah Advances
MELBOURNE, Australia — Boris Becker needed only 32 minutes to finish off Brod Dyke Thursday and reach the third round of the $1.65-million Australian Open tennis championships.
Dyke, ranked 64th in the world, and the two-time Wimbledon champion were tied at two sets apiece in a match that was halted Wednesday by darkness after the Australian left-hander had saved four match points to win a fourth-set tiebreaker, 14-12.
When play resumed Thursday, Becker completed a 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 victory.
The West German teen-ager said he had been troubled by the recollection of last year’s Australian Open, in which he was beaten in the second round by Dutchman Michiel Schapers.
“Obviously, I had last year in the back of my mind,†he said. “That was such a disappointment, and I didn’t want it to happen again.â€
Meanwhile, third-seeded Yannick Noah of France struggled past David MacPherson of Australia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, for his first victory on the Kooyong turf.
In the third round, Noah will meet Bud Schultz, who defeated Scott Davis, 4-6, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.
In another match, Pat Cash of Australia, seeded 11th, had some uncomfortable moments before defeating Claudio Pistolesi of Italy, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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