In 1985 at Wimbledon, a 17 year old unseeded tennis player named Boris Becker lit up the center court like a firecracker with his powerful serves, raw groundstrokes and his full body diving volleys at the net on his way to becoming the youngest male Wimbledon singles champion ever.
Becker was successful from the very start of his professional tennis career.
After turning pro in 1984; in a foreshadowing of what was to come only one year later, Becker reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open which was then played on a grass surface like at Wimbledon.
Becker's breakthrough win at Wimbledon in 1985 meant he was the first unseeded and first German winner of the Wimbledon singles title.
Becker was also at that time the youngest ever male grand slam singles winner at 17 years and 227 days old.
Becker would repeat as Wimbledon champion again the following year in 1986 as an 18 year old.
In the mid to late 1980s, Becker along with his countrywoman Steffi Graf would greatly inspire their nation of Germany. And with his looks, charisma and athleticism, Becker quickly as well became a global superstar.
At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Becker moved like a shorter player into his trademark net rushes as well as into his running groundstrokes.
Along the way from teen tennis king to tennis legend, Becker powered to six total singles grand slam titles which included
three Wimbledon singles titles. Becker in 1992 also won gold with Michael Stich at the Olympics in men's doubles in Barcelona, Spain.
Becker won his last singles grand slam in 1996 at the Australian Open before retiring in 1999.
profile by Ken Miller | as of Monday, November 29, 2021
