When It’s All Said and Done, Becker Big Loser

Winners never have to explain. They recount. They bask. They might even relive a moment. It is the losers who have to explain. They must analyze and rehash and justify. Often, if they are losing tennis players, they produce an excuse.

Boris Becker lost in the third round at the French Open on Sunday, and by way of explanation, he complained. Loudly and long. He made lucid, rational points, meticulously pointing out how events conspired to cause his loss. Becker also behaved petulantly and arrogantly. Like a loser.

The tournament’s third-seeded player failed to recover from the two-set deficit he racked up on Saturday night, before his match against Adrian Voinea of Romania was suspended because of darkness and rain.

On Sunday, Becker allowed his anger to distract and overwhelm him. Voinea, a qualifier who is ranked No. 128 in the world, sent Becker away from the only Grand Slam tournament he hasn’t won, with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Thirteenth-seeded Jim Courier, a two-time winner here, fell Sunday to Alberto Costa of Spain, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. Top-seeded Andre Agassi advanced easily over Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Becker’s primary complaint was that the match was even started on Saturday night. Intermittent rain during the day backed up the men’s schedule, and the Becker-Voinea match was delayed for four hours. When the players were notified at 7:20 p.m. that they were going to play it was still drizzling and the light was fading.

Becker argued against playing Saturday night, correctly noting that the courts had not been covered during the rain delay and, additionally, that it was highly unlikely the match could be completed before dark.

Still, the players took the court, greeted by the gathering dark and persistent rain. In the middle of the first set, Becker began to complain that the balls were heavy, having gotten wet and picked up clay. He complained that the court was in bad condition. He asked for the tournament supervisor.

Becker, because of his ranking and his on-court demeanor, can be an intimidating opponent. He had already tried to rattle Voinea by glaring at him after points and making comments across the net in German. Voinea also knew that if a player of Becker’s stature summoned the tournament supervisor, the tournament supervisor was likely to arrive.

Through all the hubbub, the 20-year-old appeared unperturbed and continued to play at a brisk pace. Voinea was in firm control of the match and was beating the No. 3 player in the world--he had no interest in breaking his momentum. Voinea was prepared to play until midnight in a thunderstorm if necessary.

After Becker dropped the second set, he seemed to settle the issue himself by packing his rackets and starting to leave the court. The supervisor was called, and the match was suspended.

Voinea confirmed the supervisor told him no matches were being played, but in fact two other matches were being played at the time the Becker-Voinea match was suspended. Both players understood that Voinea would surely have won a third set had the match been allowed to continue Saturday night.

Becker pulled himself together Sunday and won the third set, but groused at every perceived slight and never had Voinea’s focus. Becker fought to get to the net, but Voinea passed with great success. His serve came through in key moments.

The fourth set was well played by both men. Becker held serve to stay in the match at 5-5 and Voinea held to go up, 6-5. Sunday’s conditions helped Becker’s serve-and-volley game with faster balls and a relatively faster court.

Becker served again to stay in the match, but there was another bit of controversy. Becker was serving with match point against him and appeared to have a service winner. Voinea, taking a page from Becker’s book, appealed to the chair umpire to check the mark. The ball was called long. Moments later, Becker smacked a forehand into the net.

Becker, 27, was acutely disappointed to have lost so soon here; by his own reckoning he might not have many more chances. Despite his bombast, he did make excellent points.

“First of all, the top players are used to playing on Center Court at normal hours,” Becker said. “It should be normal weather so we [top players] can play close to the lines and serve very hot. All the things that make us better than the other guys. But when the conditions are terrible, that is not the case anymore. We basically have to play like all the others: you know, high and in the middle. It’s not anymore the special kind of game. It’s the average game.”

The conditions, at least on Saturday night, gave Voinea an equalizer. And Becker an excuse.

* NO MORE FRENCH: Mary Pierce, the last French player left, falls to Iva Majoli. C4.