Boris Becker Withdraws From Davis Cup Match

Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Boris Becker today pulled out of West Germany’s Davis Cup match with Argentina later this month, a West German tennis federation spokesman said.

The West German star has said that playing the Davis Cup in addition to the crowded ATP tour would interfere with his ambition to replace Ivan Lendl as the No. 1 player in the world.

Becker’s withdrawal dampened West Germany’s hopes against Argentina and was a blow to the team’s bid for a third straight Davis Cup title.

“We regret Becker’s decision, but we accept it,” West German tennis federation spokesman Jens-Peter Hecht said.

Hecht said Becker called team captain Niki Pilic today and told him that he was skipping the World Group second-round match in Buenos Aires on March 30 through April 1. Becker is in Indian Wells, Calif., where he is the top seed at an ATP tournament that opened today.

Becker, ranked second in the world behind Lendl, also withdrew from West Germany’s opening World Group match against the Netherlands in February, but the West Germans still won 3-2.

After winning a tournament in Brussels last month, however, Becker said he might consider a return to the Davis Cup team for the match against Argentina. But later, he said he would make his final decision this week.

Hecht said Pilic will announce his team for the Buenos Aires match after next week’s tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Michael Stich, who won his first tournament in Memphis on Sunday, appears likely to be picked as Becker’s replacement and could be given the second singles slot.