German Prosecutors Seek Prison Term for Becker

Prosecutors in Boris Becker’s tax evasion trial at Munich, Germany, on Wednesday sought a 3 1/2-year jail sentence for the retired tennis great, while lawyers for the three-time Wimbledon champion sought probation.

Becker, 34, is accused of evading more than $1.7 million in taxes from 1991-93, when he listed his residency as Monte Carlo but stayed at his sister’s Munich loft.

Becker admitted he kept an apartment in Germany 10 years ago while claiming to reside in the tax haven of Monte Carlo.

He said the investigation into his finances helped end his career.

Joerg Weigell, Becker’s lawyer, said Becker has paid $3 million in back taxes for 1991-95.

Prosecutors insisted Becker waited until the last minute to pay and didn’t admit his guilt until taken to court.

Becker said he was aware of German laws that anyone who lives more than half the year in Germany has to pay taxes in the country but insisted he only stayed in his sister’s loft occasionally.

“I knew the rules and I took them into account,” Becker said. “I accept that I am responsible for a mistake that I made 10 years ago and I know that I have to pay for that.”

*

Top-seeded Andre Agassi needed only an early break in each set to defeat Radek Stepanek, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.

Third-seeded Sebastien Grosjean defeated Sargis Sargsian, 6-4, 6-4.

*

Top-seeded Jennifer Capriati breezed into the Generali Open quarterfinals at Linz, Austria, by beating Paola Suarez, 6-4, 6-4.

*

Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt was stunned by Raemon Sluiter, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round of the Stockholm Open.

Defending champion Sjeng Schalken was upset by Taylor Dent, 7-6 (3), 6-4, and Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson lost to Tommy Robredo, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

*

Fifth-seeded Andy Roddick defeated Xavier Malisse, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Swiss Indoors at Basel.

Defending champion Tim Henman defeated Cedric Pioline, 6-1, 6-4; Albert Costa lost to Adrian Voinea, 6-3, 6-3, and second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated wild-card entry Marc Rosset, 7-6 (11), 7-6 (4).

Jurisprudence

Iowa sophomore guard Pierre Pierce pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree sexual assault on a female acquaintance in his Iowa City apartment Sept. 7, according to documents filed in Johnson County District Court.

Pierce has been suspended indefinitely from the team. He is free on bond and is due in court today to enter a plea and schedule a trial date.

Miscellany

The Galaxy will try to win a second major soccer title in a five-day span, defending its U.S. Open Cup title tonight at Columbus, Ohio, against the Columbus Crew.

On Sunday, the Galaxy won the MLS Cup for the first time in franchise history, beating the New England Revolution, 1-0, in overtime.

John Shumate, 50, a former first-round draft pick in the NBA, was hired as coach of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

The 2003 and 2004 USA Track and Field indoor championships will be held in Boston.

Next year’s meet originally was scheduled for the Armory Track and Field Center in New York, but it was moved because of construction on the sport’s Hall of Fame there.

Swiss challenger Alinghi ended OneWorld’s winning streak at the America’s Cup off Auckland, New Zealand, leading the yacht from Seattle across the line today by 27 seconds.

OneWorld was unbeaten in eight races in the first round and opened the second round Wednesday with a victory.

San Francisco-based Oracle beat Italy’s Mascalzone Latino by 2 minutes 40 seconds.

Magic Johnson will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a Friars Club Roast and Toast on Sunday night. Among those scheduled to appear are Dustin Hoffman, Larry King, Elizabeth Taylor, Norm Crosby, Pat Riley, Arsenio Hall and Jerry Buss. The dinner begins at 6. Details: (310) 553-0850, Ext. 350.

Passings

Fred Scolari, an NBA All-Star who coached the Baltimore Bullets in the 1951-52 season, died last Thursday in a hospital at San Ramon, Calif., from injuries suffered in a fall. He was 80.

T.J. Simers’ column is on Page U2 in the World Series special section.