Becker Beats McEnroe in Opening Round of Atlanta Challenge; Lendl Defeats Mecir
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ATLANTA — Third-seeded Boris Becker broke John McEnroe’s serve late in the third set Tuesday night to earn a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in the first round of the $500,000 AT&T; Challenge.
Top-seeded Ivan Lendl also advanced, overpowering fellow Czech Miloslav Mecir, 6-4, 6-3, with 12 aces.
McEnroe, after being broken twice in the first set, came back in the second set to even the match at one set apiece.
But he lost his temper in the first game of the third set. He was assessed a point penalty for overcomplaining about a call. But Becker would not acknowledge it and forfeited the next point.
Each player then held serve until Becker, leading, 5-4, broke for the only time in the set to win the match.
Lendl, in his victory over Mecir, overcame the pain of tendinitis in both hips and knees that has sidelined him from two recent exhibitions.
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