BORIS BECKER

Lee Goodall

Sunday 7 July 1985 will be etched into one man’s memory as the day that changed his life forever. On a sunny afternoon, and with the world looking on, this swashbuckling, strawberry-blond powerhouse – all tight shorts and big thighs – thundered down yet another unreturnable service to become Wimbledon’s youngest ever men’s singles champion at 17 years and 227 days. “It was my own personal lunar landing,” he said. Boris Franz Becker had arrived.

Anyone who had followed the teenager’s journey to become the first German and the first unseeded player ever to win The Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club were under no illusions that they were witnessing the coming of age of an international superstar. Becker’s brand of uninhibited tennis made him an instant crowd favourite the world over, his performances full of raw power and emotion. “Boom Boom” as he affectionately became known was soon packing stadiums wherever he went, fans eager for a “Becker dive” or to witness his celebratory “Becker Shuffle” in the flesh.

That four-set victory over South African Kevin Curren in the 1985 Wimbledon final marked the beginning of an incredible adventure for the 6ft 3” German. With a first Grand Slam trophy on the mantelpiece back home in Leimen, West Germany, he quickly climbed the rankings to establish himself as one of the best players in the world.

Some 14 years later, when he ended his career on that same Centre Court, his “living room” as he lovingly referred to it, he had amassed six Grand Slam titles as part of a total haul of 49 singles trophies, three ATP end-of-season championship titles, two Davis Cup winners medals, an Olympic gold, over $25 million in prize money and, for a 12-week period, the thrill of calling himself the world No.1.

In many ways, it was his second Wimbledon title in 1986 that cemented his place among the world’s elite and gave him the belief that he truly belonged at the top of the game. Having taken SW19 by storm 12 months earlier, this time Becker had to shoulder the burden of expectation on the journey to his second successive final where he inflicted a straight-sets defeat on Czech Ivan Lendl. “In terms of finding out whether I was a really good tennis player I think ‘86 proved it to everyone – and to me,” reflected Becker in later life.

Most would choose 1989 as Becker’s golden year, a 12-month period that saw him pick up another two Grand Slams, five singles titles in total and end the season with an impressive 64-8 win-loss record. He completed a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles with victory over his great rival, Sweden’s Stefan Edberg, and later that summer collected his only US Open title by outplaying Lendl once again in a four-set thriller.

Despite that stellar period, it was not until 1991 that Becker finally took his place at the top of the world rankings. Australia was to provide the venue for his final two Grand Slam triumphs, and when he beat Lendl in the first of those it guaranteed his status as the best player on the planet. Five years later he captured his sixth and final major when he blew away American Michael Chang to claim his second Grand Slam Down Under.

In his native Germany, Becker will also long be remembered for delivering two Davis Cup trophies in 1988 and 1989. His record for his country is nothing short of phenomenal, ending his career with a 38-3 win-loss singles tally in that famous team competition, as well as earning a doubles gold medal alongside Michael Stich at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Rather appropriately, the father of four now splits his time between Switzerland and – where else – Wimbledon, a place which has played a part in every stage of his life. As a fresh-faced 17-year-old completing that famous victory, later in his career when he reached a total of seven singles finals, and towards the end of his playing days when he said goodbye to his fans after losing to Pat Rafter at the 1999 Championships. And now, in retirement, his new living room is no more than a topspin lob from his old “living room”, where he continues to hold court as a commentator. Boris wouldn’t have it any other way.

BORIS BECKER