Tennis: Wimbledon '94 / McEnroe calls for Becker's ejection: Guy Hodgson reports on the furore over the leniency shown to a German code breaker
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Your support makes all the difference.BORIS BECKER is still in the men's singles at Wimbledon, although there is one former champion who believes he should have been ejected from the tournament.
The German seventh seed was locked at 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 6-7, 1-1 with Andrei Medvedev when play was called off for bad light on Court One last night amid growing concern about his previous, third- round match against Javier Frana on Saturday.
Yesterday it was announced that Becker was fined dollars 1,000 ( pounds 625) for receiving medical treatment during a toilet break. Alan Mills, the Wimbledon referee, said Becker's treatment consisted of 'having his legs stretched by his trainer'. But John McEnroe believes the punishment, small change for a player who has earned dollars 14m on court alone, is insufficient.
'I am shocked,' McEnroe, who was disqualified from the Australian Open in 1990, said. 'I'm absolutely amazed that Boris would have allowed this to happen. If a trainer did what he is alleged to have done then Becker should be thrown out of the tournament.
'If it's true it's an open and shut case. This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone receiving treatment (in a toilet break).'
Becker, who won 7-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, asked to leave the court when Frana was leading 2-1 and about to serve. He was accompanied by an official who reported to the umpire that the German had been treated by his personal physiotherapist, Waldemar Kliessing. When he returned he immediately broke the Argentinian.
Becker, who missed the French Open with a back injury, is entitled to on-court treatment but to leave the court contravenes the Grand Slam code. The relatively light fine contrasts with the treatment to Kenneth Carlsen, who was warned for a time violation last week while he was throwing up at the back of the court.
Becker's violation seems to have been some time in construction, too, because German journalists allege they heard him shout to Kliessing midway through the second set: 'Go in the cabin. I'll see you there in 10 minutes.'
Weller Evans, the executive vice-president of player services on the men's ATP Tour, criticised Wimbledon's leniency. 'The Becker fine amazes me. I can only assume that the committee do not perceive that receiving treatment during a toilet break is cheating.'
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