Becker And Ivanisevic To Meet In Grand Slam Cup Final

Tennis

Boris Becker and Goren Ivanisevic head into the richest final in tennis.

Ivanisevic is the defending champion in the Grand Slam Cup, a $6 million tournament that brings together the 16 players with the year’s best Grand Slam records.

On Saturday, Becker won his semifinal, giving a tennis lesson to Tim Henman of Britain, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-1.

“For a set and a half, I was competing with one of the best players in the world on his favorite surface,” Henman said. “At the end of the day, I think he’s better than me. That’s the bottom line.”

Ivanisevic, firing 42 aces to match his personal best, rallied from two sets down to beat French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-7 (6-8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Ivanisevic also served 42 aces in a match during a Davis Cup tie against India. His total for the year is a staggering 1,554, by far a historic high on the tour.

By moving into today’s final, Becker and Ivanisevic made sure of earning at least $812,500. The winner will collect $1.625 million. Ivanisevic already has collected $3.2 million in four appearances at the tournament.

Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, exposed Henman’s weaknesses with a ruthless display of power indoor tennis.

“Becker on a fast indoor court in Germany, it doesn’t come any tougher. What more can you say,” Henman said.

Cheered on by a partisan crowd of 10,000 in his hometown, Becker struggled throughout the first set to hold serve, but he did. When it came to the tiebreak, the German’s experience showed and he quickly won it, hitting a good volley at set point.

“I think the tiebreak was an important part. I managed to get a set ahead,” Becker said.

Henman dropped his serve to fall behind 2-0, but broke back in the very next game with a superb lob.

Holding three break points, Becker hit a backhand passing shot that gave him a 5-3 lead. Henman then saved a set point but Becker converted the next to take a comfortable two-set lead.

Slims Legends

Chris Evert and Tracy Austin rallied for a 6-3 victory over Zina Garrison Jackson and Evonne Goolagong in Virginia Slims Legends play at Delray Beach, Fla.

The victory gave Team Evert a 22-21 lead over Team Navratilova after the first day of the two-day event.