Spain’s Moya Makes No. 6 Becker the First Major Upset Victim

MELBOURNE, Australia — Carlos Moya of Spain, a 20-year-old who turned pro last year, provided the first shock of the tennis season by defeating defending champion and sixth-seeded Boris Becker, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the Australian Open today.

Becker, who suffered his third first-round loss here in the last five years, lost for the second straight time to Moya, who entered the tournament ranked 25th in the world. Moya defeated Becker in the second round of last year’s Paris Open.

Becker was the only early casualty as top-seeded Steffi Graf and second-seeded Michael Chang advanced easily.

Graf led, 5-1, in the first set when Janette Husarova of Slovakia twisted her left knee changing direction while rushing the net and had to retire.

Graf, seeking her fifth Australian Open title, had such a short workout in the match that she went directly from center court to a practice court for an hour of hitting.

Chang had no problem beating Kris Goossens of Belgium, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1. The only unexpected part of the match was the brief collapse of a ball girl, whom Chang helped out with a water-soaked towel he kept handy.