This spring, Ivanisevic defeated Becker in an exhibition at Lausanne, Switzerland.

Edberg, who defeated Becker for the championship last year,has gone through the draw without a murmur and hopes to keep it that way.

Until he defeated Becker in four sets yesterday, Edberg's record in 1989 finals was a discouraging 1-6, and he had failed in five consecutive finals.

In winning his 16th match in his last 17 on clay, the Spaniard needed 4 hours 5 minutes to defeat Becker, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6.

Then, in the 1990 final, Edberg defeated Becker with a glorious display of serve-and-volley artistry.

Edberg defeated Becker in 1988 and 1990.

There, he played a brand of tennis so inspired that he ripped off his shirt and flung it into the stands after defeating Becker in five sets.

Lendl defeated Becker in straight sets in a repeat of the 1985 Masters final which took place earlier in the year, in January.

Gorman pointed out that Agassi's main qualification against Germany was that he had defeated Becker the last three times the players had met.

In the far-flung tennis tour, Becker and Wilander have not crossed paths since the Swede defeated Becker in the French Open in 1987.