TENNIS ROUNDUP : Becker, Forget Pack a 1-3 Punch in Paris

Playing nearly perfect tennis Friday, Boris Becker defeated Jim Courier, the No. 1 player in the world, to advance to the semifinals of the Paris Open.

The German wasn’t the only one to have a banner day. Defending champion Guy Forget of France saved two match points to defeat No. 3 Stefan Edberg and also advance in the $2.1-million event.

Becker, diving to make winning volleys as if he were at Wimbledon, won, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

“It was a nearly perfect match,” Becker said. “From the first point to the last I didn’t miss easy shots.

“I had to hit the corners and serve in the corners. To beat him that’s the way to play.”

Forget prevailed, 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

In the other quarterfinals, Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia defeated American David Wheaton, 6-4, 6-3, and a foot injury forced Frenchman Henri Leconte to forfeit against Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland.

Becker upped his career mark against Courier to 5-0.

“Boris never fails to get up when he plays the top players,” Courier said. “He seems to get up when he plays me.”

Becker served 14 aces, and he did not face a break point.

Top-seeded Monica Seles and No. 2 Martina Navratilova advanced to the semifinals of the Bank of the West Classic at Oakland in straight sets.

Seles beat Iva Majoli, 6-3, 6-1, and will next play No. 3 Anke Huber. Navratilova defeated Natalia Zvereva, 6-2, 6-2, and will next face No. 4 Katerina Maleeva.