BECKER SHOW OF BRAVADO

BORIS BECKER bristles whenever anyone questions his ability on clay courts.

But the only way to answer his critics is by winning matches and the former Wimbledon champion, now part-time player, coach and manager, has the opportunity to prove a lot of doubters wrong when he meets Alberto Berasategui in the quarterfinal of the Monte Carlo Open here today.

Despite his surprise defeat by Todd Martin in the Barcelona final last Sunday, Berasategui, with his strange but lethal back to front forehand, is the best clay court player of the season, having won the ATP title in Estoril. But Becker made everyone sit up and take notice here when he followed up his victory over Greg Rusedski by thumping the giant Australian Mark Philippoussis 6-1, 6-1. Could the German be moving towards the only achievement that has eluded him in an otherwise glorious career - that of winning a title on clay? "People underestimate the fact that I'm pretty good on clay," said Becker with more than a little bravado. "I may not be a Grand Slam winner on it but I've been a finalist at this tournament three times and my level of play here has obviously been good." Becker knows he will have to attack against baseliner Berasategui. He said: "It's going to be a tough match but he prefers his opponent to stay back, too, so he can out-rally him and I'm not going to do that." Becker, who keeps an apartment down the road from the famous Monte Carlo Country Club, also made a plea for the tournament to be allowed to maintain its status on the ATP Tour. For more than a year there have been suggestions that the event is to be downgraded as part of the poorly thought-out ATP plan for a streamlined tour in 2000. "This is one of the most beautiful places to play tennis," said Becker. "It would be wrong to downgrade it in any way. "How we are going to make the new concept work for 2000 requires looking at the broad picture but Monte Carlo is definitely one of the best tournaments we have all year."

Copyright 1998
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.