TENNIS ROUNDUP : Becker Reacts Strongly to Agassi’s Treatment

Boris Becker has criticized Andre Agassi, his Nike sponsors and the alleged preferential treatment Agassi received at Wimbledon.

Becker, who lost to Pete Sampras in Sunday’s Wimbledon final, made the remarks to German reporters after a post-tournament party, British newspapers reported Tuesday.

The former three-time champion complained that he had played only once on Centre Court before his semifinal victory over Agassi, whereas the top-seeded American played five matches there.

“It cannot just be a coincidence that it is always Agassi at 2 p.m. on Centre Court,” Becker said. “It would be interesting to see how he played if he was always on Court 2 at noon.”

Becker alleged that commercial influences were involved.

“I think Nike has something to do with this,” he was quoted as saying. “The other companies just can’t compete with them. The company puts pressure on the tournaments and money plays a big role. You saw it at the French Open, and I am worried it will happen at the U.S. Open. I fear it will be like playing in a Nike house.

“They do not have enough money to buy me. I wouldn’t want my son wearing the things Agassi does.”

Becker said Agassi is not popular with the other players.

“Agassi is not someone the players like very much,” he said. “He is always on his own and doing his own thing. He doesn’t have much in common with us.

“He never opens up to the rest. Perhaps that’s one of the secrets of his success. If he were to open up more, perhaps fewer players would fear him.”

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Steffi Graf has withdrawn from Germany’s Fed Cup semifinal match against Spain because of back problems, German tennis officials said.

For the United States, Lindsay Davenport, Gigi Fernandez, Mary Joe Fernandez and Chanda Rubin were named to the team that plays France.

The semifinals will be played July 22-23 in Wilmington, N.C.

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Monica Seles has not given up her fight to put the man who stabbed her at a tennis tournament two years ago behind bars, despite losing an appeal.

Seles’ lawyer announced another appeal against a Hamburg court’s decision to give a two-year suspended sentence to 41-year-old Guenter Parche.

A ruling on the new appeal is not expected for six months.

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Charismatic French star Yannick Noah was beaten in the first round of the $560,000 Swiss Open in Gstaad, Switzerland--his first appearance in ATP competition in four years.

Noah was beaten by compatriot Cedric Pioline, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), despite a set point in the tie-breaker.

Noah, the 1983 French Open champion, decided to return to the circuit after dropping out of full-time play in 1991 to concentrate on a career as a pop singer.