Tennis Roundup : Becker Beats Curren Again

In a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon finalists, Boris Becker defeated Kevin Curren, 6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, Wednesday to claim the Tulsa (Okla.) Tennis Challenge.

The hard-serving Curren, playing with a sprained left ankle, allowed only two points off his serve in the first set.

In the tiebreaker, Becker, who beat Curren at Wimbledon, took a 4-1 edge and then led, 6-3. Curren held serve to trail 6-5, and Becker double-faulted twice, and Curren unleashed an ace for the win.

The second set also went to a tiebreaker. With Becker leading, 3-0, Curren scored two quick points, but Becker clinched the triumph with two service breaks on the final points.

The turn came in the fourth game of the third set as Becker took a 3-1 lead. The 17-year-old West German fired two service aces after a deuce for the win.

Curren nearly broke Becker in the seventh game, holding three break points, but Becker countered with two strong passing shots to save the game. Becker held serve into the ninth game for the 6-3 win.

In the consolation finals, Guillermo Vilas downed Vitas Gerulaitis, 7-6 (10-8), 1-6, 6-3. Vilas overcame a 4-1 first set deficit to win in a tiebreaker.

Top-seeded Pam Shriver had problems with unseeded Kim Shaefer but scored a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory in the second round of the $150,000 Virginia Slims of Chicago tournament.

Shriver, No. 4 in the world, opened the third set with a break and took a 5-2 lead before Shaefer, ranked 90th, broke back for 5-3. But Shriver broke back to win the set and the match.

Roberto Arguello of Argentina upset defending champion Aaron Krickstein, 6-4, 6-4, in the second round of a $100,000 Grand Prix tennis tournament at Geneva, Switzerland.

Francisco Maciel of Mexico upset third-seeded Lawson Duncan, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals of a $100,000 men’s Grand Prix tennis tournament at Bordeaux, France.