Tennis : Becker Defeats Gilbert and Advances to Final

West Germany’s Boris Becker overpowered a game but immobile Brad Gilbert, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, Thursday night to move into the title match of the $680,000 WCT Finals at Dallas.

Becker, 20, will play the winner of tonight’s match between Sweden’s Stefan Edberg and France’s Yannick Noah Saturday for the $200,000 top prize. It will be Becker’s second appearance in the WCT Finals championship match. He lost to Anders Jarryd in 1986.

Gilbert, 26, playing in his first tournament in 15 weeks after suffering an ankle injury, won $50,000. Becker is assured of $100,000 and would collect $200,000 with a win Saturday.

Gilbert fought off six set points before losing the first set. He broke Becker’s service twice but lost his own three times.

It was a struggle for Gilbert in the second set as he began to limp because of his sore left ankle. He couldn’t follow through on shots and was almost helpless on Becker’s service.

Becker, who served 12 aces, survived five break points to win the third game of the third set with an ace. Gilbert double-faulted at game point to lose his service in the fourth game, and Becker ran away with the set. It was the first time Becker had defeated Gilbert, having lost to him in three previous meetings.