Boris Becker

Lore & Background

Boris Becker was born in 1967 in Leimen, Baden-Württemberg, to Elvira and Karl-Heinz Becker. Named after Russian poet Boris Pasternak, he was raised Catholic. His father, an architect, founded a tennis centre where Becker learned to play. He attended Helmholtz-Gymnasium in Heidelberg. Becker turned professional in 1984 under coach Günther Bosch and manager Ion Ţiriac. In 1985, at age 17, he became the first unseeded player and first German to win Wimbledon, defeating Kevin Curren. He successfully defended his Wimbledon title in 1986, beating Ivan Lendl in straight sets. Becker won six major singles titles: three Wimbledons, two Australian Opens, and one US Open. He also won 13 Masters titles, five year-end championships, and an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles in 1992 with Michael Stich. He led Germany to Davis Cup titles in 1988 and 1989.

Reader's Guide

Boris Becker's significance lies in his revolutionary power tennis, characterized by a fast serve and all-court game, which he pioneered. He is among the top ten players with the best win percentages in the Open Era. His 1985 Wimbledon victory at age 17 remains a landmark achievement. Becker was voted Player of the Year by both the ATP and ITF in 1989. He holds a 92.70% win percentage in Davis Cup singles. After his playing career, he became a commentator and media personality, coached Novak Djokovic for three years, and played poker professionally. His later life included legal troubles: a suspended prison sentence for tax evasion in Germany in 2002, bankruptcy in the UK in 2017, and a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in 2022 for hiding assets. He was released early in December 2022 and deported to Germany.

Did You Know?

• Becker is the youngest-ever winner of the men's singles Wimbledon title, aged 17 years, 7 months and 15 days in 1985.
• He won an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles in 1992.
• Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in 2022 for hiding assets and loans from creditors and the bankruptcy trustee.
• He was named after the Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak.