Default Leaves Becker Out of It

Boris Becker’s tender relationship with the tournament he loves most continued on its wistful way Friday, as the three-time Wimbledon champion suffered a serious wrist injury and was forced to default from his third-round match.

Becker, who won the Australian Open in January, injured his right wrist--possibly breaking it--while returning serve in the first-set tiebreaker against Neville Godwin, a 21-year-old qualifier ranked No. 223. Becker was examined by a trainer but was in intense pain and unable to continue. Godwin was awarded the match, 6-6 (1-0, retired).

Becker, seeded second, was taken to a local hospital for testing and his condition was not immediately known.

A finalist here last year, Becker, 28, is the most highly regarded male player to retire from a match at Wimbledon. Third-seeded Frank Shields retired in 1931.

The injury came after the first point in the tiebreaker. Godwin hit a heavy second serve and Becker moved late for the return. The ball was moving toward his body and Becker turned away from the ball, raising his racket to hit a forehand. The ball came off the frame of Becker’s racket and sailed wide of the doubles alley.

Becker reacted immediately. He grimaced, dropped his racket and cradled his right hand. A ballboy picked up the racket and handed it to him. It was Becker’s serve. He began to walk back to the baseline, went through one service motion and shook his head.

He returned to his chair and was asked by umpire Richard Kaufmann if he wanted a three-minute injury timeout and Becker said he did. A trainer examined Becker’s wrist and taped it, then Becker and Godwin returned to the court. Becker tried a service motion again and shook his head.

Becker said the pain was so searing that he knew immediately he would default.

“My wrist gave way and I heard something pop,” he said, somberly sitting through a post-match interview. “I couldn’t hold the racket anymore. I thought I had broken my wrist. I know it’s serious. I have had many injuries in my career before, and I know when it’s something serious and when something can heal in a few days.”

ATP Tour trainer Doug Spreen said that had Becker continued to play he risked more seriously damaging his wrist.

Godwin, a South African playing in his first Wimbledon, was realistic about advancing to the fourth round.

“It doesn’t feel like a victory,” he said. “It’s kind of a peculiar feeling. In one sense you are very happy, you’ve accomplished something, but actually you haven’t accomplished it.”

Becker has had physical problems this season. He missed the French Open because of a strained muscle in his leg and struggled with a virus for two months earlier this year. He was delighted to have recovered in time for his favorite tournament.

But for all his triumphs at Wimbledon, Friday’s default brought back difficult memories of 1984, when Becker broke his left ankle during a match in the third round and defaulted. He was carried off Court 2 on a stretcher.

Becker returned to win the first of his titles the next year.

“An injury never comes at the right time,” Becker said. “But if there’s one tournament a year where I really would like to do well, it’s Wimbledon. It’s the highlight of my season. I’ve had as good a chance to win this year as I’ve had in a long time. Therefore, it’s a big disappointment to me.

“But that comes with the territory; I am an athlete. I’ve been injured before, and it’s just part of the whole deal. In the end, it evens out. You have periods when you have plenty of luck and periods when luck isn’t on your side. But coming at Wimbledon is as bad as it can be.”

Becker has been a popular champion since winning his first title as a freckle-faced 17-year-old. His arrival in the finals against Pete Sampras last year was all the more heralded as it came 10 years after he first won the tournament.

Sampras won easily, but Becker was the crowd favorite. At the fans’ urging, Becker took a sheepish victory lap of Centre Court, carrying the silver plate awarded to the runner-up.

Becker came into the tournament this year after winning the Wimbledon warmup tournament at Queens. Upsets had greatly aided Becker. After the loss of six seeded players from the bottom half of the draw, only two seeded players, Wayne Ferreira and Todd Martin, remained with Becker.

The events of the day ensure that an unseeded player will advance to the semifinals: Becker is the only unseeded player to win Wimbledon.