Boris Becker was born on November 22, 1967, in Leimen, West Germany. His early coming of age would not have been a surprise to his parents, who had always raised him in a sporting household. Father Karl-Heinz was an architect, while his Mother Elvira enjoyed a glittering tennis career at the youth level.
This early exposure would have gone a long way toward igniting his passion and love for the sport, setting the stage for a remarkable career. It was in 1985 that Becker’s first main success came when he became champion of the men’s singles at Wimbledon at the age of just 17.
Such a victory made history on several fronts – at such a tender age, he still holds the record for the youngest winner of the tournament. He was also the first player to achieve the feat whilst being unseeded, as well as becoming the first German to win the competition.
It was his aggressive, serve-volley tactics that lent themselves perfectly to the grass of SW19. He managed to repeat the feat in London in 1986 and 1989, as well as winning the Australian Open in 1991 and 1996 and the US Open in 1989, bringing his total amount of Grand Slam victories to six.
His success did not end there, with the German reaching a career-high ranking of world number 1 in 1991. It was not just on the singles court that Becker triumphed, with him finding results in doubles, too. He won several titles, including three Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal in 1992.
His all-around proficiency on a tennis court helped propel him to a fan-favorite status in what was a congested era of talent. Despite retiring from playing the game in 1999, his involvement in the sport did not stop there.
He has consistently commented for British television, and his charm, sense of humor, and charisma have powered him to firm viewer-favorite status. He has also been involved in the making of another all-time great, Novak Djokovic, as he was Serbian’s main coach for three years.
Despite finding himself in financial trouble, his legacy as a tennis icon remains untarnished. He remains a symbol of youthful achievement and an integral part of the sport's golden era.
