Balanced Becker Takes On Chang

Not so long ago, the career of Boris Becker seemed to be in eclipse, a Grand Slam champion whose time had passed. Yet, on Sunday, he faces Michael Chang in the final of the Australian Open.

When Becker won his last major title here in 1991, he celebrated in an odd and wonderful way--racing out of the stadium before the ceremony to cavort among the trees in the park and shout his delight to the heavens.

That victory, his fifth Grand Slam title, helped him become No. 1 for an all-too-brief period. It was as if, after getting to the top, he lost interest in climbing.

Leg injuries took a toll, and he developed other interests. He married at the end of 1993, and he and his wife, Barbara, had a son, Noah. Now, at 28, he has found an equilibrium.

“You cannot really play consistently over 12 years,” Becker said. “Some years your main priority is tennis tournaments and winning them. And other years your main priority is your private life. In order to have a long career, you have to balance them both, and I did.

“Two and a half years ago, I knew that in order to get back to my top level I had to work much harder. I had to improve where I wasn’t as good. And I had to keep my strength. But that took a while.”