Boris Becker

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born on November 22, 1967, in Leimen, a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Boris Franz Becker is the son of Elvira and Karl-Heinz Becker. He was named after the Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak and raised in the Catholic faith. His father, Karl-Heinz, an architect, established a tennis center in Leimen where Becker first learned to play the sport. He received his secondary education at Helmholtz-Gymnasium in Heidelberg. His mother, Elvira Becker (née Pisch), was of Sudeten German descent, originating from the Moravian village of Kunewald (Kunín^Czech).

1.2. Early Tennis Development

In 1974, Becker joined the TC Blau-Weiß Leimen tennis club and began training under Boris Breskvar. By 1977, he had become a member of the junior team of the Baden Tennis Association, achieving victories in the South German championship and the first German Youth Tennis Tournament. That same year, he was selected for the German Tennis Federation's top junior team by Richard Schönborn, who stated that the Federation funded Becker's training at an expense exceeding 1.30 M DM. In 1981, Becker was included in the Federation's first men's team. He further honed his skills by winning the doubles title at the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships in 1982. Despite his parents' initial intentions for him to pursue traditional education and a respectful degree, Becker turned professional in 1984, under the guidance of Romanian-born coach Günther Bosch and Romanian manager Ion Țiriac, and won his first professional doubles title that year in Munich.

2.1. Breakthrough and Wimbledon Success

As a teenager, Becker first gained significant attention by winning the Tennis World Young Masters at the NEC in Birmingham in 1985. He then secured his first top-level singles title in June of that year at Queen's Club. Two weeks later, on July 7, 1985, at the age of 17 years, 7 months, and 2 days, he made history by becoming the youngest-ever male Grand Slam singles champion. This achievement occurred at Wimbledon, where he was an unseeded player, ranked 20th in the ATP standings. He defeated Kevin Curren in four sets in the final. This record was later broken by Michael Chang in 1989 at the French Open. Two months after his historic Wimbledon triumph, Becker became the youngest winner of the Cincinnati Open.

In 1986, Becker successfully defended his Wimbledon title, overcoming world No. 1 Ivan Lendl in straight sets in the final. However, in 1987, then ranked No. 2, he surprisingly lost in the second round of Wimbledon to Peter Doohan, who was ranked 70th.

2.2. Grand Slam Titles and World No. 1

Becker reached the Wimbledon final in 1988, where he lost in four sets to Stefan Edberg, marking the beginning of one of Wimbledon's most notable rivalries. The following year, 1989, was his only season with more than one Grand Slam singles title. After a loss to Edberg in the French Open semifinals, Becker defeated Edberg in the Wimbledon final, and then went on to beat Ivan Lendl in the US Open final. This dominant performance led to him being voted Player of the Year by both the ATP and the ITF.

In 1990, Becker faced Edberg for the third consecutive year in the Wimbledon final, but this time he lost in a lengthy five-set match. He was also unable to defend his US Open title, falling to Andre Agassi in the semifinals. Becker reached the final of the Australian Open for the first time in 1991, where his victory over Lendl propelled him to the world No. 1 ranking. He held the top spot for 12 weeks during 1991. Another loss to Agassi in the French Open semifinals prevented him from winning the first two Grand Slam tournaments of the year, and he reached his fourth consecutive Wimbledon final, only to lose in straight sets to fellow German and No. 7 seed Michael Stich.

By 1993, Becker's career entered a decline, partly due to personal issues related to his courtship and marriage to Barbara Feltus, and tax problems with the German government. He continued to decline for half a decade due to losing interest in tennis and various off-court reasons. Despite this, he reached the Wimbledon final for the seventh time in 1995, defeating Agassi in the semifinals before losing to Pete Sampras in four sets. That year, he won the year-end ATP Tour World Championships for the third and final time in Frankfurt, defeating Michael Chang in straight sets. Becker's sixth and final Grand Slam title came in 1996, when he defeated Chang in the final of the Australian Open. After winning the Queen's Club Championships for a record-equalling fourth time, Becker was expected to contend for the Wimbledon title but was forced to withdraw due to a right wrist injury during a third-round match against Neville Godwin.

In October 1996, Becker famously defeated Sampras in a five-set final at the Stuttgart Masters, prompting Sampras to call him "the best indoor player I've ever played." However, Becker lost to Sampras in the final of the 1996 ATP Tour World Championships in Hanover. Later that year, he won the Grand Slam Cup, defeating Goran Ivanišević in the final. In 1997, Becker again lost to Sampras, this time in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, after which he initially vowed never to play there again. He did return in 1999, losing in the fourth round to Patrick Rafter.

The rivalry between Becker and Stefan Edberg is particularly notable for their three consecutive Wimbledon finals from 1988 to 1990. While Edberg won two of these (1988, 1990) to Becker's one (1989), their overall head-to-head record favored Becker, who won 25 of their 35 matches. Although Edberg held the world No. 1 ranking for a longer period (72 weeks compared to Becker's 12), Becker spent more weeks within the top 5 and top 10 rankings. This highlights that while Becker dominated their overall encounters, Edberg often prevailed in key championship matches.

2.3. Olympic Gold and Davis Cup

Becker also achieved significant success in team competitions. He helped West Germany secure its first Davis Cup title in 1988. In 1989, he played a crucial role in West Germany retaining the Davis Cup, notably defeating Andre Agassi in an epic semifinal match that spanned two days. This match was ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the best ever played. Becker holds an impressive Davis Cup singles win percentage of 92.70%, with a 38-3 win-loss record.

In 1992, despite a fierce rivalry on the singles circuit, Becker teamed up with fellow German Michael Stich to win the men's doubles gold medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. This Olympic victory was achieved on a clay court, a surface on which Becker had less success in singles play. Additionally, he won the Hopman Cup in 1995 and the World Team Cup in both 1989 and 1998, representing Germany. In 1987, Becker participated in one of the longest matches in tennis history, a 6-hour and 22-minute Davis Cup encounter against John McEnroe, which Becker won.

2.4. Later Career and Retirement

Becker's mid-career saw a decline in his performance, starting around 1993. This period coincided with increased public scrutiny of his personal life, particularly his marriage to Barbara Feltus, and emerging tax problems with the German government. These off-court issues, combined with a reported loss of interest in tennis, contributed to a continuous slump over five years. After his final Wimbledon appearance in 1999, where he lost in the fourth round to Patrick Rafter, Becker officially announced his retirement from professional tennis. He later reflected that having achieved so much by the age of 22, including multiple Wimbledon titles, a US Open, a Davis Cup, and the world No. 1 ranking, he began to seek the "next big thing" beyond tennis.

2.5. Playing Style

Boris Becker's distinctive playing style was fundamentally built around a fast and impeccably placed serve, which earned him the famous nicknames "Boom Boom," "Der Bomber," and "Baron von Slam." He was also renowned for his exceptional volleying skills at the net, a crucial component of his aggressive serve-and-volley game. Becker's athleticism at the net was remarkable, highlighted by his signature diving volleys, which became known as the "Becker dive" and "Becker roll"-movements previously unseen in tennis that captivated audiences worldwide. His powerful forehand and potent return of serve were also significant assets.

While primarily a serve-and-volley player, Becker occasionally attempted to out-hit opponents from the baseline, a strategy often criticized by commentators, despite his powerful groundstrokes. Becker was known for his intense emotional expressions on court. When dissatisfied with his play, he frequently swore at himself and sometimes smashed his rackets. In 1987, he was fined 2.00 K USD after a series of outbursts during the Australian Open, which included breaking three rackets, offensively throwing the ball at the umpire twice, hitting the umpire's chair, spitting water in the umpire's direction, and hitting three balls out of the court. His dramatic on-court presence led to the coining of several terms, including the "Becker Blocker" (his early return shot), the "Becker Hecht" (flying lunge), the "Becker Faust" (fist), the "Becker Shuffle" (a dance performed after crucial points), and the "Becker Säge" (Becker Säge^German, referring to his sawing fist-pump motion).

Becker excelled most on fast-playing surfaces, particularly grass courts and indoor carpet, where he won 26 titles. He had comparatively less success on clay courts, never winning a top-level singles title on this surface. His closest attempt was in the 1995 Monte Carlo Open final, where he led Thomas Muster by two sets to love before ultimately losing. However, he did secure an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles on a clay court with Michael Stich at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

2.6. Career Statistics and Records

Boris Becker's professional career was characterized by a remarkable number of wins and numerous accolades, cementing his place in tennis history. He finished his singles career with a 713-214 record (76.9% win rate) and his doubles career with a 254-136 record (65.1% win rate). Over his career, he amassed prize money totaling 25.08 M USD, placing him among the all-time leaders in earnings.

Becker secured 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles. His major championship victories include:

• Australian Open: 1991, 1996
• Wimbledon: 1985, 1986, 1989
• US Open: 1989

In addition to his six Grand Slam titles, he triumphed in the year-end Masters / ATP Tour World Championships three times (1988, 1992, and 1995), the WCT Finals in 1988, and the Grand Slam Cup in 1996. He holds a record-equalling four singles titles at London's Queen's Club.

In the Davis Cup, Becker's career win-loss record was 54-12, including an impressive 38-3 in singles matches. He also won the Hopman Cup in 1995 and the World Team Cup in both 1989 and 1998, contributing significantly to Germany's team successes. He is notably the first male player to appear in seven Wimbledon finals in the Modern Era, a record he shares with Pete Sampras and Novak Djokovic, trailing only Roger Federer's twelve appearances. Becker won singles titles in 14 different countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

Becker holds several notable records in the Open Era:

• Youngest Wimbledon Singles Champion**: He achieved this in 1985 at 17 years, 7 months, and 2 days.
• Unseeded Winner of Wimbledon Singles Title**: He shares this distinction with Goran Ivanišević for his 1985 victory.
• Three Titles in Three Weeks Across Three Continents**: A unique achievement in 1986 (Sydney, Tokyo, Paris).
• Four ATP Championship Series Titles in a Single Season**: Achieved in 1990, a record shared with Juan Martín del Potro and Stefan Edberg.
• Four Stockholm Open Singles Titles**: Shared with John McEnroe (1988, 1990-1991, 1994).
• 19 Victories Against World No. 1 Players**: A record tied with Rafael Nadal.
• 10 Comeback Victories from Two Sets Down**: A record shared with Aaron Krickstein and Roger Federer.

His highest singles ranking was world No. 1, which he achieved on January 28, 1991. His highest doubles ranking was No. 6, achieved on September 22, 1986.

Becker's Grand Slam singles performance timeline is as follows:

3.1. Media and Commentary

Becker has maintained a high public profile through his work as a tennis commentator and media personality. He began working as a commentator for the BBC at Wimbledon in 2002, a role he continued for two decades, with a break between 2014 and 2016 while he coached Novak Djokovic. In 2012, he relocated to the United Kingdom, making London his primary residence. During the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, while Becker was incarcerated, he received on-air messages of support from former broadcasting colleagues Andrew Castle, John McEnroe, and Sue Barker.

Beyond tennis commentary, Becker was a team captain on the British TV sports quiz show They Think It's All Over on BBC One from October 2005 to June 2006. He also appeared as the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" on the BBC's car show Top Gear in 2011.

From 2017, Becker regularly appeared on Eurosport as part of its English-language Grand Slam coverage, often alongside other former tennis players turned TV personalities like Mats Wilander and Barbara Schett. He also hosted his own German-language commentary show, Matchball Becker, with commentator Matthias Stach. In May 2022, following his sentencing and initial detention, Eurosport reportedly explored the possibility of setting up a home studio in prison for him to participate in their French Open coverage, though this did not materialize. Eurosport temporarily replaced him with Mischa Zverev and renamed his show. However, just weeks after his release from UK jail in December 2022, Eurosport announced his re-hiring for their 2023 Australian Open coverage. In May 2009, Becker launched Boris Becker TV, an online media platform available in English and German, featuring career highlights and footage of his daily life.

3.2. Coaching Career

In December 2013, Novak Djokovic announced that Boris Becker would become his head coach for the 2014 season. This role led Becker to step away from his BBC commentating duties. Over the three seasons they worked together (2014-2016), Becker contributed significantly to Djokovic's success, which included six Grand Slam titles and 14 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles. Notably, Djokovic won the French Open in 2016, which was the only Grand Slam singles title Becker never won himself. After this successful period, Djokovic and Becker mutually parted ways in December 2016. In 2023, Becker took on a coaching role with Danish tennis player Holger Rune, a partnership that lasted until 2024.

3.3. Business Ventures and Investments

Following his playing career, Becker ventured into various business activities. Since 2000, he has been the principal owner of the tennis division of Völkl Inc., a manufacturer of tennis rackets and clothing. In 2000, Becker also partnered with the German IT company Pixelpark AG for a joint dot-com investment: Sportgate.de, a German-language website covering local, regional, and national sports. However, this venture ceased operations in the summer of 2001, less than a year after its launch, amid reports of financial issues and a lawsuit from his business partner.

3.4. Autobiographies

Becker has published several autobiographies, offering insights into his personal and professional life. His autobiography, Augenblick, verweile doch... (English: The Player), released in 2003, garnered significant global attention due to its candid disclosures. The book detailed aspects of his publicized divorce from Barbara Feltus, including his 1999 sexual encounter with Russian waitress Angela Ermakova, which ultimately led to the end of his marriage. The autobiography also revealed personal struggles, such as an addiction to painkillers and sleeping pills early in his tennis career, as well as admissions of promiscuity and excessive alcohol consumption as coping mechanisms for loneliness while traveling. The book achieved success, appearing on The Sunday Times bestseller list. In June 2015, another autobiography, Boris Becker's Wimbledon: My Life and Career at the All England Club, was published. This book provided a retrospective on his experiences at the All England Club and featured a foreword written by Novak Djokovic, who was the reigning Wimbledon champion and world No. 1 at the time.

3.5. Administrative Roles

Becker has also taken on administrative roles within the sports world. For a decade, he served on the economic advisory board of the German football club Bayern Munich. On August 23, 2017, he was appointed the head of men's tennis for the German Tennis Federation (DTB). Beyond professional sports, Becker is also a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

3.6. Poker Career

Becker is a notable poker player, having participated in the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour. By 2013, he had accumulated over 90.00 K EUR in career earnings from poker tournaments. From November 2007 to May 2013, he was a member of the celebrity team for the online poker platform PokerStars, where he competed in professional tournaments. His first appearance as a poker amateur was at a tournament in Monte Carlo in April 2008. In mid-April, he entered the Main Event of the World Poker Tour at the Bellagio, finishing in 40th place and winning over 40.00 K USD in prize money. In August 2011, he placed 97th at the European Poker Tour in Barcelona, winning 8.00 K EUR. In April 2013, he again participated in the EPT Main Event in Berlin, finishing 49th with a win of 15.00 K EUR. As of August 2018, Becker's tournament earnings exceeded 100.00 K USD, and he was ranked 132,133rd in the Global Poker Index. He has also served as an ambassador for the partypoker online poker platform, playing under the nickname Boris__Becker.

4.1. Tax Evasion Conviction

A criminal investigation into Becker's tax affairs commenced in December 1996 while he was still an active professional tennis player. In July 2002, after his retirement from the sport, German prosecutors filed charges of tax evasion against him. Initially, he was accused of withholding 10.40 M DM (approximately 5.00 M USD) in taxes. However, the trial ultimately focused on a reduced sum of 3.30 M DM (1.60 M EUR), for which prosecutors believed they had sufficient evidence. The core of the case revolved around Becker's place of residence between 1991 and 1993; his tax filings stated Monaco, while the prosecution presented evidence that he spent the majority of that time in the Munich area.

During his court appearance on October 23, 2002, Becker admitted to living in Munich between 1991 and 1993, despite being officially registered in Monaco. He maintained, however, that he could not be accused of actively withholding income or engaging in criminal schemes. As part of his defense, Becker characterized his Munich property as a "spartan flat with just a bed and no refrigerator," suggesting it was not a primary residence but a place he stayed when visiting his sister. It also emerged that he had ignored warnings against purchasing the Munich apartment. Becker informed the court that the ongoing financial investigations, which began in December 1996 and involved "countless raids of [his] house and office," contributed to his decision to retire from tennis, as he "hasn't won any tournaments since then."

Prior to his court date, Becker paid approximately 3.00 M EUR in back taxes, an amount exceeding the sum he was on trial for. Despite this admission and payment, which were seen as attempts to secure a lighter sentence, the prosecution still sought a prison sentence of three years and six months. One day later, on October 24, 2002, the Munich District Court, presided over by Judge Huberta Knöringer, handed Becker a two-year prison sentence, which was suspended. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a fine of 300.00 K EUR and another 200.00 K EUR to various charitable institutions.

4.2. Bankruptcy Proceedings

On June 21, 2017, Boris Becker was declared bankrupt by the Bankruptcy and Companies Court in London. This order stemmed from an unpaid loan of nearly 14.00 M USD (approximately 2.00 M GBP) from 2015, related to his estate in Mallorca, Spain, which he had failed to repay by an agreed deadline. Becker publicly denied being "broke" or owing money to his former business adviser Hans-Dieter Cleven, who had filed a lawsuit in a Swiss court claiming 41.00 M USD (30.00 M GBP) was owed to him.

In June 2018, Becker's lawyers attempted to claim diplomatic immunity in the bankruptcy case, citing his appointment as the Central African Republic's (CAR) "Attaché for Sports/Humanitarian/Cultural Affairs in the European Union." However, Charles-Armel Doubane, the CAR's Foreign Minister, countered that Becker was "not an official diplomat for the Central African Republic," that the specific role of "attaché for sports" did not exist, and that the CAR passport Becker presented was part of a batch that had been stolen in 2014. In September 2019, the German businessman Stephan Welk, who had provided Becker with the passport, was detained for possible fraud.

As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, an online auction of Becker's trophies and memorabilia was announced for July 11, 2019, to raise funds for creditors. Becker was compelled to auction 82 items from his personal collection, including a Goldene Kamera award and his trophy from the 1989 US Open. This auction ultimately raised 687.00 K GBP. However, five of his Grand Slam trophies and other medals remained unaccounted for, prompting calls for information on their whereabouts in January 2018, including his 1992 Barcelona Olympics doubles gold medal.

On November 5, 2019, Becker's bankruptcy restrictions were extended for an additional 12 years, until October 16, 2031. This extension was imposed after a court determined he had concealed assets and transactions valued at over 4.50 M GBP.

4.3. Imprisonment and Deportation

Boris Becker was subsequently charged with illegally failing to hand over assets and trophies, valued at 2.50 M GBP, to repay his debts during his bankruptcy. His trial commenced on March 21, 2022, at Southwark Crown Court in London. He was accused of concealing 1.13 M EUR from the sale of a car dealership in Germany, as well as hiding bank transfers, real estate properties in Germany and London, and 825.00 K EUR in bank loans. Becker pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining that he had not evaded his obligations.

On April 8, 2022, Becker was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act, though he was acquitted of 20 other charges. On April 29, 2022, he was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment for these offenses. His incarceration began at HM Prison Wandsworth in South London before he was transferred to HM Prison Huntercombe, a facility designated for foreign criminals. While imprisoned, Becker reportedly reviewed news articles related to himself and requested his lawyers to correct what he considered "fabricated" reports.

Becker was released from prison on December 15, 2022, after serving eight months of his sentence. On the same day, he was deported to Germany, as he was eligible for automatic deportation due to receiving a custodial sentence exceeding 12 months. Conflicting reports exist regarding his future eligibility to enter the UK; some sources indicate he may be able to return as early as October 2024, while others state he is barred from entering the country for a period of ten years.

5.1. Marriages and Relationships

Becker had relationships with Karen Schultz from 1988 to 1991 and with Cassandra Hepburn from 1991 to 1992. He then began a relationship with Barbara Feltus, marrying her on December 17, 1993, in his hometown of Leimen, while she was eight months pregnant. Prior to their marriage, they caused a stir in Germany by posing nude for the cover of Stern magazine in a photograph taken by Barbara's father.

In December 2000, Becker asked Barbara for a separation. Barbara subsequently traveled to Miami, Florida, United States, with their sons, Noah and Elias, and filed for divorce in Miami-Dade County Court, effectively sidestepping their prenuptial agreement, which would have limited her settlement to 2.50 M USD. Her departure to Florida was prompted by a woman claiming to be pregnant with Becker's child. In his autobiography, Becker admitted to his wife that he had a one-night stand with another woman while Barbara was pregnant with their second child. He also recounted that Barbara struck him during an argument when he flew to Florida to discuss their separation. Their pretrial hearing in January 2001 was broadcast live in Germany, and despite the contentious proceedings, the couple dined together each night during the hearing. Becker was granted a divorce on January 15, 2001. Barbara received a settlement of 14.40 M USD, their condominium on Fisher Island, Florida, and custody of their children.

In February 2001, Becker publicly acknowledged paternity of a daughter, Anna Ermakova, with Russian waitress Angela Ermakova. This came after media reports of a sexual encounter in 1999 at London's Nobu restaurant. Initially, Becker denied paternity, alleging that Ermakova had obtained his sperm and used it for self-insemination. However, he later reversed his stance, and a DNA test confirmed his fatherhood. In November 2007, he obtained joint custody of Anna after expressing concerns about her upbringing by Ermakova.

Becker was briefly engaged to Alessandra Meyer-Wölden in 2008. Her father, Axel Meyer-Wölden, had served as Becker's former adviser and manager. The engagement ended in November 2008.

In February 2009, Becker announced on the German TV show Wetten, dass..? that he would marry Dutch model Sharlely "Lilly" Kerssenberg. Their wedding took place on June 12, 2009, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. In August of that year, they announced they were expecting a child.

In May 2018, Kerssenberg and Becker publicly announced their separation after nine years of marriage. This announcement was followed by multiple divorce and family court hearings throughout 2018, with both estranged spouses accusing the other of "unreasonable behavior" and filing divorce petitions. Despite these proceedings, they were not legally divorced by the time of Becker's imprisonment in 2022. Following Becker's release from prison, in a February 2023 interview for the Bild newspaper, Kerssenberg accused Becker of failing to pay child support for their then 13-year-old son.

In July 2019, reports indicated that Becker was dating British model Layla Powell. At the time of his 2022 conviction, he was in a relationship with Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro. The couple married on September 14, 2024.

5.2. Children

Boris Becker has four children from different relationships. With his first wife, Barbara Feltus, he has two sons: Noah, born in January 1994, and Elias, born in September 1999. In February 2001, Becker acknowledged paternity of a daughter, Anna Ermakova, whose mother is Angela Ermakova. After initial denials and legal proceedings, a DNA test confirmed his biological fatherhood, and he later secured joint custody of Anna in November 2007. With his second wife, Sharlely "Lilly" Kerssenberg, he has a son named Amadeus Benedict Edley Luis Becker, who was born in London on February 10, 2010.

6.1. Place in Tennis History

Becker is widely regarded as a pioneer of power tennis, characterized by his fast serve and aggressive all-court game. He is noted for introducing a more athletic and dynamic style of play that influenced subsequent generations of tennis players. In the Open Era, he is recognized among the top ten players with the best win percentages. Andre Agassi, in his autobiography, described Becker as the world's most popular tennis star in the late 1980s. Tennis magazine recognized his historical significance by ranking him 18th in its list of the 40 greatest players of all time in 2006, and 11th best male player for the period of 1965-2005.

6.2. Professional Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Boris Becker received numerous professional awards and honors. In 1989, he was named both the ITF World Champion and the ATP Player of the Year. His early impact on the sport was also recognized when he was awarded the ATP Most Improved Player in 1985. In 2003, Becker was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, cementing his place among the sport's greatest figures. He occasionally participates in the senior tour and World Team Tennis, and in 2005, he engaged in exhibition matches with Michael Stich, discussing the state of tennis with journalist Marc Engelhard.

6.3. Documentaries

Becker's life and career have been the subject of documentary films. He is the focus of Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker, a two-part 2023 Alex Gibney documentary. The first part of this film premiered at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival.