Boris Becker

See also: Becker

Boris Becker is a former player of German Tennis , born with Leimen (Baden-Württemberg) the November 22nd 1967. It measures 1,90m for 85 kg.

Career

Boris Becker begins the Tennis very early, thanks to a tennis court built by his father. At twelve years, it follows a program of intensive drive, which enables him to play in professional league as of its seventeen years. In 1985, it gains the Tournoi of Wimbledon at the 17 years and 7 months age. He is the youngest player to gain a tournament of the Large Slam (record beaten by Michael Chang in 1989 with Roland-Garros, 17 years and 3 months old).

In 1986, it defends its title in Wimbledon and demolishes Ivan Lendl finally, then classified number 1 world, and he is always at present the youngest player to preserve a title of the large slam (18 years and 7 months), In 1987, of return to Wimbledon, he loses with the second round, but the following year arrives until finally where he east demolishes by Stefan Edberg. This same year it helps Germany to gain the Coupe Davis and is then recognized like a great champion.

1989 are certainly the top of its career, it gains once again Wimbledon, leaf Stefan Edberg finally, and for the first time the US Open, by beating the world number one Ivan Lendl. He concludes the year by one second Davis championship victory, against Sweden. On this occasion, it crushes in 3 small sets Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander. It again gains for the second time the tournament of Bercy against Edberg but it always loses the finale of Master of New York against its eternal Swedish adversary. For as much, he as well will probably never have played as in this end of the year 1989.

Although carrying out largely in the total of their meetings (25-10), Boris more often inclines itself against Edberg in the very great appointments in large slam (1-3). Thus it loses in 5 sets the 3rd consecutive final which opposes the two players to Wimbledon in 1990.

In 1991, he arrives the Open one of Australia finally, where he beats Lendl to be finally world number 1 but he loses with the general surprise against his compatriot Michael Stich the final of Wimbledon.

In 1992, with Stich, they gain the double Sirs with the Olympic Games of Barcelona.

Becker arrives for the seventh time finally of Wimbledon in 1995 but it is beaten in four sets by Pete Sampras. It gains its sixth and last title of the large Slam in 1996, by beating Michael Chang finally Open of Australia.

This same year 1996, Boris Becker reaches once again the finale of Masters in Hanover. Against Pete Sampras, then n°1 world, it delivers a baited duel, of a level of play ever reached. The two adversaries strike each ball at 100%. On the score of 3-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (4) 6-7 (11) 6-4, Becker is inclined without any regret. He will even say him never to be able rejouer to this level.

He takes his retirement in 1999 after having played last once at Wimbledon. its last winner will be Australian Patrick Rafter. He plays since by intermitence on the Senior Turn.

“Bang Bang” as liked to call it the media is today joint owner of Volkl, a mark of sports equipment, which has under contract several players ATP (Radek Štěpánek, Jiří Novák), as well as several concessions Mercedes in Germany.

Its play

Boris Becker is known to be one of the first large waiters (even if John McEnroe had already an extremely powerful service), which was worth the nickname of " to him; Bang-boum". He was the first to exceed of speed of ball at the time of the service 200 km/h during the years 1980, speed now exceeded by many players but it is necessary to take account of the seniority of the equipment to include/understand the true measurement of the power of Becker.

But one cannot in no case to restrict the play of Becker to his only power with the service, although this was one of the reasons essential of its 3 successes in Wimbledon: contrary to the pure waiters that are Greg Rusedski, Richard Krajicek, Mark Philippoussis or Goran Ivanišević, for which the possibilities of shining elsewhere than on fast surface are limited enough, Becker has a play definitely more complete with in particular very a right skilled, a reverse with a solid hand, and a flight able to compete with that of its large rival Stefan Edberg.

In spite of the heaviness of its legs, which limits its speed somewhat and its capacity of displacement it obtains interesting results on beaten ground, reaching with three recoveries the semi-finals with Roland-Garros (1987, 1989,1991).

Nevertheless, the grass enables him to live its greater hours of glory. Its competition with Stefan Edberg, a splendid opposition of attackers to the contrary styles (the smoothness and touch for Edberg, power and the percussion for Becker), is never expressed better than on the London grass. In spite of crushing the domination of Becker in the total of theirs face to face (25-10) their three consecutive finales twice give the victory to Edberg, against in Becker.

Pete Sampras, by beating Becker finally in Wimbledon in 1995, takes over to some extent at the post of Master of the places, which made say to Becker: “front, Wimbledon was my garden, maintaining it is it his”. Producing a complete play of attack, like him, but with more elegance, of address and especially more flexibility in the play and displacement, Pete Sampras can be regarded as the heir to Boris Becker, even like a synthesis of Edberg and Becker: as they it very gained, except Roland-Garros, ground cursed for the attackers.

Becker is thus the precursor of the modern tennis of attack, and today much of players seem to be inspired some, following the example Andy Roddick. Edberg, followed a die to him completely to share in the history of tennis, that only Tim Henman seems today to perpetuate with the more high level. But like Edberg, it is exceeded starting from the middle of the years 1990 by the power of the players of the new generation, which pushes it towards the exit in 1998. It is however necessary to underline the beautiful longevity of the career of Becker: 11 years separate its first and its last victory in Large Slam, which places it obviously in the court of largest of the history of tennis. With Steffi Graf, Michael Stich and Anke Huber, it forms also part of the precursors of the popularity of tennis in Germany, sport formerly been sulky by the public in this country, and which today meets a great success thanks to its heirs Tommy Haas, Rainer Schuettler or Nicolas Kiefer.

Prize list

Large Slams

49 titles into simple

Other results

15 titles in double

  • 1984 (1) - Munich
  • 1986 (2) - Sydney Indoor, Brussels
  • 1987 (3) - Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan
  • 1988 (2) - Indian Wells, Milan
  • 1989 (1) - Indian Wells
  • 1990 (1) - Indian Wells
  • 1992 (3) - Brussels, Olympic Games of Barcelona, Monte Carlo
  • 1993 (1) - Doha
  • 1995 (1) - Milan

External bonds

Rapid data sheet on Boris Becker and two quotations on N1tennis.com

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