Like a Kangaroo, Becker Bounces Back in Australia

Boris Becker blended his uncanny survival instincts with the diving volleys of his youth to win the Australian Open on Sunday, more than a decade after the first of his six Grand Slam titles.

Facing a gritty comeback by Michael Chang, Becker changed his shoes, his rackets, his shirts, changed the pace and style of his game, did everything he had to do to secure a 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory.

Becker didn’t race outside the stadium to bellow among the ghost gum trees in Flinders Park after winning, as he did when he captured the Australian championship the first time to become No. 1 in the rankings in 1991.

That was the last major title Becker won, though he came close by reaching the Wimbledon final later that year and again last July.

Becker’s victory this time, at 28, proved to himself and the world that he’s not too old to win Grand Slam events, that he can keep up rallies even with indefatigable younger players like the 23-year-old Chang, and that there may be more of this to come.

“To tell the truth, I didn’t think I had a Grand Slam left in me,” Becker told the crowd.

“My days are counting,” Becker said to Chang, “not yours.”

Said Chang: “Boris is very much a champion, both on and off the court. Boris was just too good today.”

Becker’s path to this title was as hard as any he has ever had. After losing in the first round here in 1993, skipping ‘94, and losing in the first round again last year, Becker got off to a slow start.

He survived a five-setter in the first round, came back from two sets down to win another five-setter in the second round, and played close matches the rest of the way.

At the start against Chang, it looked for a while as if Becker finally would have an easy time. When they walked on court and posed for the photographers, the 5-foot-9 Chang stood on his toes to make it seem as if he wasn’t so much shorter than the 6-3 Becker. Becker, not to be outdone, stood on his toes too.

Becker asserted his size, power and quickness at the net right from the beginning, winning the first four games as Chang tried to figure out ways to beat him.

Becker didn’t just dominate with ruthless strength, as he did when he became the youngest Wimbledon winner at 17 in 1985. He dueled on equal terms with Chang from the baseline, waited patiently for Chang to make mistakes, charged in when he had the chances, and jumped on Chang’s second serve to force breaks.

Chang dropped his first service game on a double fault, but was under pressure the whole match as he struggled to save 18 of 23 break points.

Chang saved six break points in the second set before, at 4-4, Becker dashed across to put away a forehand volley on what had looked like a winning forehand cross-court pass by Chang from short range. Becker served out the set at love.

But Chang, once again coming from behind, got to deuce on a forehand pass down the line and gained his first service break of the day on two double faults by Becker.

Becker wound up with seven double faults, Chang six, and they each served 11 aces.

Chang broke Becker again in the third set’s final game with two dazzling service returns and Becker’s last double fault of the day.

Becker’s first break in the fourth set was frustrating for Chang, who double-faulted at 15-0 after a portable telephone rang in the stands. Chang fell behind, 30-40, when he hit a backhand that brought no call from the baseline judge but then was called out by the chair umpire.

Chang protested angrily, and again after hitting wide on an attempted forehand pass down the line on game point.

That put Becker ahead 2-1, and he broke again for 5-2 when the speedy Chang couldn’t handle a drop shot and then a forehand cross-court pass.

Becker served out the match as Chang ran out of passing shots, missing his first three tries in the game and then hitting long on a backhand cross-court effort on the second match point.

No man past the age of 25 had won a Grand Slam title since Stefan Edberg captured his second consecutive U.S. Open in 1992. Becker is the oldest player to win a major since 30-year-old Andres Gomez took the French in 1990.

Becker also extended his mark as the active player with the most singles titles, 45, including Wimbledon in 1985, ’86 and ‘89, the U.S. Open in ’89 and ‘91, and the ’91 Australian.

Chang was in his third Grand Slam final, winning his first at 17 in the 1989 French Open and losing in the French last year to Thomas Muster.