Boris Becker

Boris Becker is a German former professional tennis player who became the youngest ever Wimbledon men's singles champion at age 17 in 1985.

At 17, Boris Becker walked onto the Centre Court at Wimbledon as an unseeded qualifier in 1985 and walked out as the youngest men's singles champion in the tournament's history — a victory so improbable and complete that West German tennis was never the same again. 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
• US Open 1989
• Australian Open 1991, 1996
• two-time Davis Cup champion with Germany