TENNIS ROUNDUP : On This Day, Becker Is No Match for Novacek, 6-3, 6-3

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker lost to Karel Novacek of Czechoslovakia, 6-3, 6-3, in only 69 minutes at the Austrian Open Friday in Kitzbuehel.

The 22-year-old West German, No. 3 in the world rankings, dropped nine consecutive games in his poorest performance in years.

Many of the 6,500 spectators, including several West Germans, whistled and jeered as Becker left the court.

“I can’t remember (when) Boris ever lost so many games in a row,” said Nikola Pilic, who heads West Germany’s Davis Cup team. “I don’t know what got into him.”

Becker started with his characteristic strength, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. But unforced errors--double faults and weak returns--then made his game virtually unrecognizable, giving 37th-ranked Novacek the first set in 32 minutes and putting him ahead 3-0 in the second.

West Germany’s Steffi Graf defeated Soviet Natalia Zvereva, 6-0, 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the Player’s Challenge Canadian Open at Montreal.

Graf, ranked No. 1 in the world, took the first set in 21 minutes. She said the second set was prolonged only because she was attempting new shots.

“She never had much of a chance,” Graf said. “I never felt I could lose.”

In another quarterfinal, No. 2 Gabriela Sabatini defeated Jennifer Capriati, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Top-seeded Guillermo Perez Roldan of Argentina was upset by Jordi Arrese of Spain, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinals of the San Remo Open at San Remo, Italy.

No. 2 Juan Aguilera of Spain and unseeded Roberto Azar of Argentina also moved into the semifinals. Aguilera beat Omar Camporese of Italy, 6-3, 6-2, and Azar edged Claudio Mezzadri of Switzerland, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8).

Libor Nemecek of Czechoslovakia upset top-seeded Andres Gomez of Ecuador, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships at Brookline, Mass.

Nemecek will meet Australian Darren Cahill in the semifinals today. Cahill was an upsetwinner over fifth-seeded countryman Richard Fromberg, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.