Becker, Noah Chart Their Courses for a Quarterfinal Meeting

Seven weeks ago, Boris Becker won Wimbledon. Three weeks ago, Yannick Noah was so tired of tennis, he wanted to retire.

Becker and Noah, two of tennis’ biggest names won their fourth-round matches Sunday to set up a quarterfinal match Wednesday at the U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Becker started slowly, but finished fast against Mikael Pernfors, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Noah staged his second consecutive dramatic comeback to beat Alberto Mancini of Argentina, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3.

But Pete Sampras, who upset Mats Wilander in the second round, wasn’t as fortunate. Jay Berger ended Sampras’ run in the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1, victory.

Becker made only 47% of his first serves, but survived when Pernfors blew 10 of 13 break-point opportunities.

After saving two match points and squeaking past Derrick Rostagno in a five-set, second-round victory, Becker may not be playing superbly, but at least he is winning.

“I have tough matches against good opponents and I think those matches are even more important than winning easily,” Becker said.

“The most important thing is to win. It doesn’t matter how you play. I am very happy how I have fought on the court. That’s the bottom line. That’s how you win Grand Slams.”

Noah has won one Grand Slam, the 1983 French Open, and as recently as last month was considering quitting. He planned to sail around the world for peace and quiet and contemplate retirement from tennis.

“You cannot find a quieter place than the sea,” Noah said.

But Noah’s attitude changed when he hired Dennis Ralston, who sometimes works with Chris Evert, as his coach.

Noah, who said he was not sure “whether my fire inside still burned,” is now certain and plans to play at least through next year.

He was down a set and trailed, 2-3, 15-40, in the fourth and then won eight consecutive games. Noah also won game point for 5-2 when he hit a volley winner on the frame of his racket.

“I think I have been a little bit lucky,” he said. “But you know, I have a lot to prove to myself.”

Sampras was not lucky at all. His match against Berger turned when he lost a ball in the sun and missed an easy overhead into the net on point that would have given him a 6-5 lead in the first set.

After that, Sampras double-faulted at deuce and dumped a makeable forehand volley into the net on break point.

“I was completely blinded by the sun on that overhead,” Sampras said. “I couldn’t recuperate after that first set loss.”

Jimmy Connors, who suffered leg cramps during the final moments of Saturday’s victory against Andres Gomez in the third round, said Sunday he will continue.

Connors, a five-time Open champion who celebrated his 37th birthday by beating Gomez Saturday, is scheduled to play third-seeded Stefan Edberg today.

“I’ll be there,” Connors said after practicing for 15 minutes Sunday. “You’ve got to forget about yesterday, wipe it out of your mind and just go play. If I feel OK and not stiff, that’s even better.”

Connors stiffened during the final three points of his four-set victory over Gomez.