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Vintage Becker on centre court

Perhaps Boris Becker is about to ask Pete Sampras for his keys back.

The three-time Wimbledon champion, who made the All England Club seem like his own private establishment before five-time titlist Sampras came along, shrugged off the distractions of semi-retirement yesterday to charge into the third round.

He did it with a straight-sets triumph over 15th-seeded Nicolas Kiefer, the fellow German he has barely spoken to since they fell out over a Davis Cup dispute.

And a full house on centre court saw some vintage Becker, powering down sledgehammer serves and punching away winning volleys. The only thing they didn't get from the 31-year-old star, who first won Wimbledon at age 17 in 1985, was one of his trademark sprawling dives across the court.

"It was almost like I won the tournament, but unfortunately it was only the second round,'' Becker said after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

"It was a great feeling to be back on centre court and it brought the best out of me. I haven't played obviously for a long time on it and to be able to come back after my first round to play perfect grass-court tennis was very pleasing.''

On his return to Wimbledon after two years, Becker came back from two sets down in his first round match against Britain's Miles MaClagan to win in five.

Two years ago he said he had played his last Wimbledon. Now he says this is definitely his last.

"Obviously the first round was much more than just a tennis match and, once I got that over with, I was very much as ease with myself and more relaxed today and, especially on centre court, which is my favorite court,'' Becker said.

"I can't say that this is my place any more. I used to own it, but Pete Sampras had taken over the keys. This court, this tournament, has been very much a part of my life. For almost 15 years it has been a very important place for me."

As Germany's Davis Cup manager, Kiefer is one of Becker's charges and Becker is certain the youngster will become a star even though the 21-year-old was disappointing on Thursday.

Becker played down reports of bad blood between the two stemming from a youth camp which Kiefer refused to attend last year.

He denied shunning Kiefer before the match. "I have my way of preparing with my own people and I just don't talk to anyone else," he said.

Kiefer, he added, "is a very talented player who will do very well at Wimbledon in the future."

Kiefer said: "Boris was very good today. It was a great match for him. I felt pretty good. It was a great experience for me."

Asked about the reported acrimony between the two, Kiefer replied: "I was playing my tennis and I didn't think about that."

AP