Boris Becker

Wimbledon's youngest ever champion (aged 17) who won six Grand Slams and embodied 1980s tennis glamour.

Boris Franz Becker was born in Leimen, West Germany in 1967 and became one of the most dramatic figures in tennis history — winning Wimbledon at 17 as an unseeded qualifier in 1985, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history. He won 6 Grand Slam singles titles: Wimbledon (1985, 1986, 1989), the Australian Open (1991, 1996) and the US Open (1989). He compiled a career record of 713-214 across 15 years, winning 49 titles. He served 15,117 career aces. He reached world number one in 1991. His big serve — one of the most powerful and accurate in the sport's history — combined with aggressive net play made him devastatingly effective on fast surfaces. He won 3 Davis Cup titles with West Germany and unified Germany (1988, 1989, 1993). His rivalry with Stefan Edberg across 3 Wimbledon finals (1988, 1989, 1990) is the finest head-to-head rivalry of the late 1980s. He was the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon, the first German to win a Grand Slam and, at 17, the youngest men's Wimbledon champion. His post-playing life was turbulent — bankruptcy proceedings in 2017 and imprisonment in 2022 for concealing assets — casting a shadow over a career of exceptional distinction.

Becker was renowned for his powerful serve-and-volley game, utilizing his 6'3" frame to deliver thunderous serves and follow them to the net. His signature move was his fearless diving volley, throwing his body completely horizontal to reach difficult shots at the net.

Becker revolutionized men's tennis by proving that teenage power and athleticism could dominate the sport's biggest stages, paving the way for future young champions.

• Wimbledon 1985, 1986, 1989
• Australian Open 1991, 1996
• US Open 1989
• Davis Cup 1988, 1989, 1993 (West Germany/Germany)
• World No.1 1991
• ITF World Champion 1989