Becker Wins Wimbledon Starter

Boris Becker began his rain-delayed defense of the Wimbledon men’s championship with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Karel Novacek of Czechoslovakia today, while Stefan Edberg of Sweden won his opening match without losing a game.

Edberg, the fourth seed, downed another Swede, Stefan Eriksson, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. It was the first whitewash at Wimbledon since the open era of tennis began in 1968 and only the third triple-love score in Wimbledon history. Also winning, but with more of a struggle, was second-seeded Ivan Lendl. The Czechoslovak defeated Christian Saceanu of West Germany 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.