Becker Gets the Best of a Familiar Foe

Boris Becker defeated his old nemesis Stefan Edberg in two sets Sunday to win the Queen’s grass-court tennis tournament at London.

Becker defeated Edberg, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), using a strong serve and a lethal backhand. The victory came almost 11 years to the day after Becker’s first tour victory--also at the Queen’s surface in this West End London club.

“I can’t believe it’s been 11 years ago,” Becker said. “I had to be on my game today. . . . Stefan was having some of the best returns of the game. Even though I had good first serves, I had to work hard on my second serve and my volleys.”

The 30-year-old Edberg, who plans to retire at the end of the season, looked almost as good.

“I’ve been playing some of the best tennis I’ve done for a long time,” Edberg said. “I told Boris at the net, ‘I hope to see you in two weeks.’ He said ‘no, you mean three weeks.’ ”

The Wimbledon men’s final is July 7.

“That would be a dream,” Edberg said. “It’s not that far away. If I keep doing the things I’ve done this week, at least I’ll be a threat at Wimbledon . . . and hopefully I can play Boris in the final.”

Edberg let five break points slip away in the first two sets until he finally broke Becker in the 12th game of the second set at 6-6 to force the tiebreaker.

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Meredith McGrath continued her upset of the top seeds, winning the DFS Classic at Birmingham, England, by defeating second-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the final. . . . American Richey Reneberg defeated France’s Stephane Simian, 6-4, 6-0, to win the Heineken Open at Rosmalen, Netherlands. . . . Spain’s Felix Mantilla clinched his first ATP title with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 victory over sixth-seeded Hernan Gumy of Argentina in the final of the Maia Open-Oporto Cup at Oporto, Portugal.

Miscellany

Former Miami Dolphin running back Sammy Smith admits he dealt drugs and blames only himself for the turn his life took.

“The only answer I can come up with is stupidity,” Smith said in a telephone interview from the Seminole County Jail. “I didn’t need money. I was fine.”

Smith, who left the NFL in 1992, is preparing to start a seven-year, three-month term in federal prison. He was arrested as he was meeting couriers carrying 13.2 pounds of powder cocaine and 2.2 pounds of crack in Miami. On July 31 and Aug. 1, he was videotaped selling 12 ounces of crack to an undercover Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation agent.

“I’m living proof of the fact it’s not worth it to deal drugs,” he said. “You see what users go through. . . . You’re not any better than the people who are ruining their lives by using it.”

Germany’s Juergen Klinsmann scored twice but even he was outshone by Croatia’s Davor Suker in soccer’s European Championships at London.

Suker also scored twice and almost scored an audacious third with a 50-yard lob as Croatia defeated defending titlist Denmark, 3-0, to became the first team to advance to the final eight.

Germany, which downed Russia 3-0, is almost there too. Only a loss to Italy on Wednesday by more than two goals and a Czech victory over the Russians will stop the two-time champions from advancing.

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Larry Holmes, a 46-year-old former champion, ended his 23-year boxing career with an eighth-round knockout of Anthony Willis in his 70th and final pro fight at Bay St. Louis, Miss. . . . Barbra Fontana Harris and Linda Hanley won their second women’s beach volleyball event of the season, defeating Janice Harrer and Gayle Stammer, 15-11, in the U.S. Open at Ocean City, Md. . . . In men’s pro beach volleyball, Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes defeated Scott Ayakatubby and Brain Lewis, 15-11, to win the Cuervo Gold Crown at Boulder, Colo.