Stefan Edberg won his first title of the year and bolstered his No. 1 world ranking Sunday with a four-set victory over fellow Swede Jonas Svensson in the Eurocard Classics tournament. Edberg, who won 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, broke Svensson's serve three times as he took the first set in less than 30 minutes. He had trouble with his own serve in the second set and almost dropped the third when Svensson led 5-4. But Edberg broke to even the score and the match turned in his favor. The victory was worth $137,000; Svensson collected $76,400. More important, Edberg opened a significant lead over No.2 Boris Becker in the world rankings. Edberg reclaimed the No.1 spot last week when Becker defaulted at Brussels with a sprained thigh muscle. The injury may keep Becker out of action for a month. The German held the No.1 spot for 20 days after winning the Australian Open in January. With his victory, Edberg raised his points total to 3,997 while Becker dropped to 3,523. Becker, who could return to action next month at Key Biscayne, now faces a long road to another shot at No.1. It probably will not come before Wimbledon. "This is where I want to be," Edberg said. Edberg needed 2 hours, 34 minutes to overcome Svensson, ranked 13th in the world. Svensson had won only two sets against Edberg in six previous career losses. It was Edberg's 28th tournament victory and came after semifinal losses at the Australian Open and last week in Brussels. "This was a very important win, I really needed this one," Edberg said. "I haven't been playing my best tennis this year." Svensson took a 2-0 lead in the second set after Edberg committed three double-faults. He then saved four break points in the fifth game and used some good returns as he went on to even the match. Another double-fault by Edberg gave Svensson a 40-0 lead in the seventh game, but Edberg rallied to win it. After breaking Edberg for a 5-4 lead, Svensson made a string of errors to allow Edberg to immediately regain the break. Leading 40-15 on Svensson's serve, a volley by Edberg hit the tape and dropped into Svensson's court, giving Edberg the set. Svensson never recovered and fell behind 5-1 in the fourth set before breaking Edberg at love. But he lost his serve in the very next game as Edberg clinched the match with a passing shot. "He had his chance in the third set, but he played three very bad games in a row," Edberg said. "I've been struggling with my serve and volley all week, and he returned very well today. But he was slow and made too many easy mistakes." "I haven't returned so well in a long time," Svensson said. "But at 5-4 in the third set, he started putting more pressure, he was coming in more and it became difficult to pass him." Lendl beats hard-serving Stich in Memphis final MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ With two tournament victories in the past two weeks, Ivan Lendl said he could find nothing to complain about after downing Michael Stich 7-5, 6-3 to win the $750,000 Volvo Indoor. "I'm very pleased. I hit the ball nice and clean. I didn't give him any free points and I made a lot of big shots when I needed them," said Lendl, the tournament's top seed and the No.3 player in the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings. Lendl defeated Stich in the quarterfinals last week in Philadelphia and is 4-0 lifetime against the German. "I played better this week, but if you win _ that's what counts," Lendl said after taking his 90th career tournament title. Lendl controlled Stich with precision groundstrokes and a powerful serve when needed as he dispatched him in 90 minutes to pick up the $99,000 winner's check. Stich, seeded seventh and ranked 25th, had not lost his serve in four previous matches. The defending champion earned $53,000 for his second-place finish. Although unable to move to the net, Stich was able to stay with Lendl through the first 11 games. Stich, who saved two break points in the fourth game, suffered his first break of service in Game 12. Lendl reached set point on a backhand passing shot from the baseline and then broke and took the first set when Stich mis-hit a baseline backhand as he attempted to return Lendl's strong forehand. "I missed two easy balls," Stich said. "I just lost my concentration." Lendl broke through again in the second game of the second set, when Stich battled back from 0-40 to deuce before sending two forehands long to lose the game. Lendl saved three break points in the set's seventh game and finally held serve with a service winner. "I had him at love-40 and I couldn't break him," Stich recalled. "Usually, two or three points decide a match and you have to take advantage of every chance you have. That's why he (Lendl) has been able to do what he has the last 5 to 10 years. That's the difference." Lendl said he felt the key to the match was coming back to break Stich quickly in the second set. "He's been serving so well. I had just won the first set and I didn't want to give him any points," he said. "He had a big mental letdown after the first set and he made some errors. I try to guard against that myself. You don't want to give your opponent anything easy." Novotna wins three-set final in Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY _ Top-seed Jana Novotna won her fifth career singles championship by defeating No.5 seed Anne Smith 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the $150,000 Virginia Slims of Oklahoma tournament. After dropping the first set to Smith, Novotna earned the victory with aggressive rushes to the net. "She (Smith) played very well and I knew I had to get to the net before she did," Novotna said. "And that's what I did during the second and third sets." Smith and Meredith McGrath, the No.2 seeded team, defeated the No. 3 seeded pair of Katrina Adams and Jill Hetherington 6-2, 6-4 in the doubles final.