Tennis Roundup : Becker Loses to Perez in First Round

Wimbledon champion Boris Becker of West Germany was knocked out of the $150,000 Austrian Open at Kitzbuehel Thursday, losing to Diego Perez of Uruguay, 6-3, 6-1, in a first-round match.

“I haven’t played so weak since my childhood,” the 17-year-old Becker said.

His lackluster performance netted him only $506.25.

The 73-minute match began Wednesday but was halted by rain and darkness with Perez leading, 1-0, in the second set. Thursday, the 23-year-old Uruguayan took only 28 minutes to oust Becker, running off five games in a row after Becker had tied the second set at 1-1.

“I am only a human being with highs and lows. But right now I am at my lowest low,” Becker said afterward.

Nine of the 16 seeded players were eliminated Thursday, including No. 3 Aaron Krickstein, who lost to Pavel Slozil of Czechoslovakia, 6-1, 7-6.

John McEnroe was challenged by a linesman during his match in a $315,000 tournament at Stratton, Vt., before moving into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over John Sadri.

McEnroe, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, was angered by calls from Bob Wright, who was on the service line. After McEnroe spoke several times to Wright, once shouting: “Open your eyes,” Wright stood up, took off his sunglasses and took steps toward McEnroe, who then turned away.

Wright, a college professor, moved to the opposite service line for the next game but was replaced by a lineswoman. McEnroe later complained to umpire supervisor Ken Farrar, saying: “I don’t need guys who are out here picking fights,” and that the chair umpire should have overruled several line calls.

“We realize it’s not a Sunday school out there, but if an official feels abused or demeaned, he can appeal to the chair umpire.”

Wright was not permitted to talk with the press.

Farrar said the only time he knew of a player and linesman coming to blows was two years ago at a tournament in Stowe, Vt.

“Ilie Nastase physically attacked a linesman and Nastase was suspended for six months and fined $22,000. That’s the only case I know of,” he said.

In other third-round matches, No. 2-seeded Ivan Lendl defeated Tim Wilkison, 6-4, 6-4, and No. 3 Jimmy Connors beat Brian Teacher, 6-2, 7-5.

At Toronto, Chris Evert Lloyd, Martina Navratilova and Hana Mandlikova advanced to the quarterfinals of the $280,000 Canadian Open.

Lloyd beat Australia’s Elizabeth Smylie, 6-1, 6-1. Navratilova took just 35 minutes to eliminate Vicki Nelson, 6-1, 6-0, and Mandlikova disposed of Italy’s Rafaella Reggi of Italy, 6-2, 6-2.

Navratilova’s quarterfinal opponent will be Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, winner of last week’s Virginia Slims of Los Angeles tournament, who advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Sylvia Hanika.