Stich sews up his rival : Tennis

BORIS BECKER was not simply beaten by his German rival Michael Stich here yesterday, he was humbled, 6-0 6-3, in 64 minutes. He could not remember losing a set to love since he was 12 years old

It was Becker's heaviest defeat since losing to Stich in Hamburg, 6-1 6-1, three years ago. On that occasion, Becker knelt on the clay court and bowed to his rival. The court here for the $2.25m Eurocard Open has a similar reddish hue, but the surface is carpet and the event is played indoors.

What made yesterday's experience worse for Becker was that he is the master of indoor tennis to the extent that his coach, Nick Bollettieri, has been in danger of losing his Florida tan.

Before yesterday's semi-final, Becker had beaten Stich in straight sets in their five previous meetings indoors. Indeed, Stich had only won three of their 10 matches: famously in the 1991 Wimbledon final; on grass at Queen's Club, in London, in 1993; and emphatically on the Hamburg clay which suits his technique rather better.

On the eve of yesterday's contest, Becker had emphasised the improvement of his baseline play, saying that he was no longer so dependent on the potency of his first serve. Yesterday, his serve was a disaster - six double faults and a mere two aces - and as a consequence the other elements of his game were null and void.

He double-faulted to lose three games - two in a row costing him the first set after only 23 minutes - and the opening nine games zipped past him before he was able to make a response. He raised his arms to acknowledge the sympathetic roar after holding for 1-3 in the second set.

Stich, in contrast, became almost unplayable after dictating the pattern.Viewed with some justification as the lugubrious one, he knows from experience that the best way to cope with Becker's emotional presence is to dampen it down with winning shots.

"It was the perfect match for me," Stich said. "I got a little nervous in the second set, but today was one of those days when every time I touched the ball it went exactly where I wanted it to.''

Their history showed that whoever wins the opening set wins the match, and there was little doubt on that score here. Becker salvaged only 10 points. He had two opportunities to break in the opening game of the second set, only to be disheartened when Stich produced a breathtaking cross- court backhand to save the second. Stich also eased the pressure that might have transferred to him by saving two break points in the fifth game and another when serving out the match.

"I was not one step slower, I was three steps slower," Becker said, pointing out that playing his way to consecutive finals in the last two weeks had taken a toll.

Today's final between Stich and Richard Krajicek is a repeat of the 1993 event, with the Dutchman hoping for revenge. His last visit ended in anguish when one of his aces was overruled after he thought he had saved a match point.

Krajicek had far too much service power yesterday for Martin Damm, defeating the 22-year-old qualifier from the Czech Republic, 6-2 6-3.