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Old guys in spotlight McEnroe, Becker to meet in U.S. Open exhibition
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Former champions John McEnroe and Boris Becker will cap off the U.S. Open's new Super Saturday program with a winner-takes-all match, the U.S. Tennis Association said on Wednesday. The 42-year-old McEnroe, a four-time U.S. Open champion, and 1989 winner Becker, 33, will play a best-of-three sets match following the women's singles final. "I'm very happy to be part of this event because I think we are going to be an icing on the cake to what will be a great night," said McEnroe, who divides his time between the senior tour and his television commentary commitments. "I think that we can add a little something to the event. I very much look forward to taking care of Boris." Becker countered, via a conference call: "I'm not so sure about that, John." Becker was speaking from Spain where he said he was back in training for a return to action. The German has not played competitively for two years, but said he was embarking on a six-week program to get in shape for the McEnroe match and other special events. "I'm playing with my old guys I used to practice with on the men's circuit a couple of hours a day, plus some gym work," said Becker, winner of six Grand Slam titles. "I think I'm going to be in good shape then." Becker, who has been dogged by financial and romantic troubles off the court, said the best-of-three match was just the thing for him. "It's an opportunity for me to play in front of my American fans, especially New York fans, against my old pal and enemy John McEnroe, which for the past we always had the best matches," said Becker. "I just recall our Davis Cup match in 1987 in Hartford where we played way over six hours. "Fortunately, though, we have only a best-of-three match, so maybe an hour and a half match," he said with a laugh. Becker recently reached a multi-million dollar divorce settlement with his wife of seven years, Barbara Feltus. He also agreed earlier this month to pay a settlement over a love child he fathered with a Russian model, and is under investigation by German tax authorities. Becker said he intends to play seriously on the senior tour for the next couple of years. "We are competitors, we live for it," he said. "It's important to play against the best. I've decided in that way to come back into tennis." McEnroe, who grew up in New York and served as a ball boy at the U.S. Open, said he hoped his match against Becker would be the start of something big for seniors at the tournament. The charismatic left-hander said he believes "the seniors of this world, the past champions, could add a little flavor to a tournament like the U.S. Open. "I hope that this brings something even bigger in the future...perhaps a singles event of some kind for the seniors." According to USTA official Arlen Kantarian, the women's singles final will be the first Grand Slam final to be broadcast in U.S. prime-time. The men's singles semifinals will be contested earlier on the same Saturday in a separate day program.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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