TENNIS / L.A. OPEN : Becker Finds Another Level in Victory

Boris Becker, looking to regain his form before the U.S. Open begins Aug. 29, survived a second-round challenge Thursday to defeat Chuck Adams 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in the $313,000 Los Angeles Open.

In other matches, No. 6 Jason Stoltenberg of Australia defeated Steve Bryan 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 and Karsten Braasch, the eighth seed from Germany, got by qualifier Steve Campbell 6-4, 6-2.

Third-seeded Andre Agassi played Greg Rusedski of Canada in a night match.

Becker, the No. 2 seed whose world ranking has dropped to 11th, traded breaks with Adams in the fourth and fifth games of the first set. They stayed on serve until the 12th game when Becker trailed 30-15 on his serve.

Adams’ backhand hit the line and was called good. But the chair umpire overruled and ordered the point replayed.

Becker responded with an ace to hold serve and went on to win the tiebreaker 7-4. The German ran off five straight games in the second set before Adams finally held serve in the sixth.

“It’s always interesting to play Chuck,” Becker said. “We have played before in the juniors. I kept playing better and better as the match went on. I would start serving better and he kind of put his head down.”

Adams, from nearby Pacific Palisades, said Becker transformed his play after the first set.

“He was sluggish to begin with but once he gets going he’s hard to beat,” Adams said. “He moved it up a few notches.”

Becker’s off-court distractions increased last winter when he got married and became a father.

“I think I’m on my way back up,” he said. “With each match I’m getting better. I believe that I have a couple of big tournaments left in me. The U.S. Open is one I’d like to win.”