Boris Becker reminded us how small the margins which take life in different directions can be when he needed seven match points to beat the Dutchman Scheng Schalken 6-2, 7-5 in the Eurocard Open in Stuttgart yesterday.
Becker had one match point against his German compatriot Hendrik Dreekmann at Halle in June, one which had he converted would have persuaded him to accept a Wimbledon wild card. That might have revived Becker's playing fortunes and would certainly have provided a colourful epilogue to a career now in danger of fading without a curtain call.
True, Becker yesterday produced some rousing backhand passes which brought back pleasant memories, but his was a variable performance betraying not only his shortage of match practice but also how nearly the 30-year-old's career might have been over. Had the ankle he damaged eight weeks ago taken much longer to heal he would, he said, now be calling it a day.
"If I hadn't been ready for now, I don't think I was going to be back next year. It is tough enough having to rest for three months. I couldn't have coped with it being six," he admitted.
With only Tommy Haas showing signs of form among the other Germans, promoter Ion Tiriac must have been breathing a sigh of relief that his former protege survived to keep the centre court hot for a second round against the French Open champion Carlos Moya. But the truth is Becker is playing a cannier match off court than on it at the moment.
He has started a management company and is said to be keen to look after the affairs of Haas, who won the title in Lyon last week and earned a second-round match with Marcelo Rios today by beating the South African David Nainkin.
Becker has been keen to reform the Tour calendar and is also said to have been in talks with the Association of Tennis Professionals about his wish to join the board. Becker's Davis Cup doubles partner David Prinosil was beaten - a result which may suit Greg Rusedski. The 13th-seeded Briton lost to the German the last time they met, but now Rusedski will meet the former Wimbledon semi-finalist Jason Stoltenberg instead.
