Becker marks return with fluent victory

SPLIT, CROATIA, February 4: Back from a relaxing few months away from the men8217;s tennis circuit, German veteran Boris Becker cruised past unseeded Fredrik Bergh of Sweden yesterday in a first-round match of the 400,000 ATP Croatian indoors tennis tournament.

Becker, who hasn8217;t played a match since dropping out early from a tournament in Stockholm last November, won 6-3, 7-6 7-5.

In other games, Javier Sanchez of Spain joined Briton Tim Henmanas the second seeded player to tumble out of the first round when he faltered at the hands of Czech Martin Damm 6-3, 7-6 7-1.

Swiss Marc Rosset, seeded fifth, started slow but regained composure to beat Renzo Furlan of Italy, who is ranked 114th by the ATP, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.