Boris Becker

NAME: Boris Becker

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Tennis Player, Wimbledon Champion

BIRTH: November 22, 1967, in Leimen, West Germany

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Boris Becker was born to Karl-Heinz and Elvira Becker. His father was an architect, and his mother was a former youth tennis champion. Tennis was introduced to him by his father who built the local tennis center.

CHILDHOOD: Becker was known for his prodigious talent and powerful serve from a young age. He often practiced against Steffi Graf at the local courts.

EDUCATION: He received his secondary education at Helmholtz-Gymnasium in Heidelberg but focused heavily on his tennis training.

CAREER RECORD: Becker's career highlights include winning Wimbledon at the age of 17 in 1985, becoming the youngest-ever men's singles champion. Here's his resume:

Six Grand Slam titles: 3 Wimbledon (1985, 1986, 1989), 2 Australian Open (1991, 1996), 1 US Open (1989)

Won year-end championships three times (1988, 1992, 1995)

Olympic gold medal in doubles (1992) with Michael Stich

Reached No. 1 ranking in the world (1986)

Won 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles throughout his career

APPEARANCE: Becker is tall and athletic, known for his powerful physique on the tennis court and his distinctive red hair.

Becker in 1994 By Flickr-User mandj98 

FASHION: During his playing days, Becker was often seen in classic tennis attire, sporting headbands and iconic sports gear with colourful tracksuits a signature.

CHARACTER: A tenacious competitor with a fierce will to win, Becker often displayed emotional outbursts on court.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Off the court, Becker is appreciated for his dry wit and self-depreciating jokes. He once famously quipped, "If I wasn't a tennis player, I'd be a refrigerator repairman."

RELATIONSHIPS: Becker's love life, well, that's a whole other story. He was married to Barbara Feltis for a spell, but it wasn't meant to be. 

Then came Dutch model Lilly Kerssenberg, who became Mrs. Becker number two on June 12, 2009, in a ceremony held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Their marriage came a few months after Becker announced their engagement on the German TV show Wetten, dass..? 

Nine years later, that love match fizzled out too.  Four children sprouted from these unions, each with a rather interesting story behind them, though perhaps the most attention-grabbing was Anna, conceived in, ahem, the broom cupboard of a London restaurant. Let's just say Boris wasn't exactly known for his conventional approach to fatherhood.

MONEY AND FAME: Becker earned millions throughout his career from winnings, endorsements, and appearance fees.  He was known for his luxurious lifestyle and expensive cars. However, he faced significant financial difficulties later in life.  Poor investments and lavish spending resulted in him being declared bankrupt in 2017.

Boris wasn't exactly known for his meticulousness. There's the legendary tale of him leaving his £200,000 Wimbledon cheque from 1989 stuffed in his tracksuit bottoms. Unfortunately, his dear mother, bless her heart, mistook it for gym laundry and promptly washed it to oblivion. Can you imagine the look on his face? Luckily, they gave him another one – though perhaps an envelope might have been a better option.

FOOD AND DRINK: Becker is known to enjoy German cuisine and fine wines.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Becker has an appreciation for classical music and modern art.

LITERATURE: Becker is an avid reader, particularly interested in biographies and historical novels.

NATURE: Becker enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and cycling.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Apart from tennis, Becker is a skilled poker player and has competed in professional tournaments. He also enjoys playing chess.

Boris Becker, a chap with a shock of red hair that would make a fire engine blush, defied all odds (and the stuffy traditions of Wimbledon) in 1985 by becoming the first unseeded player to snatch the men's singles title. A mere teenager at the time, a sprightly 17 years and 7 months old, Becker became the youngest fellow ever to hoist the famous Wimbledon trophy. This wasn't just a win, it was a sporting earthquake.

This German powerhouse went on to rack up a collection of titles that would make a lesser man need a separate room just for his trophies. We're talking 49 shiny singles titles and 15 hard-earned doubles ones. Don't forget his Grand Slam haul: three Wimbledon wins, two Australian Open triumphs, and a US Open victory to round things out.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Becker has a keen interest in technology and is knowledgeable about sports science.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Young Becker was raised Catholic.

Becker has explored philosophical themes in his writings and interviews.

SCANDAL: Becker faced legal and financial troubles. On June 21, 2017, he was declared bankrupt by the Bankruptcy and Companies Court in London. It seems he wasn't the most forthcoming about his assets, which landed him in hot water with the law. Accused of hiding millions and failing to part with some of his trophies to settle debts, he was found guilty on April 29, 2022 and sentenced to 30 months in the slammer. Not quite the victory lap he was probably hoping for.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Becker has struggled with health issues, including a hip replacement surgery in 2016.

HOMES: Becker has lived in a number of places throughout his life, including:

Leimen, Germany (his birthplace)

Munich, Germany

Monte Carlo, Monaco

London, England

TRAVEL: Becker's tennis career necessitated extensive travel around the world. He competed in tournaments across all continents and spent a significant amount of time on airplanes.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Since his retirement from tennis, Becker has become a regular fixture in the media. He has worked as a commentator for the BBC and other networks, offering expert analysis of tennis matches.  He also made a cameo appearance in the James Bond film GoldenEye.

ACHIEVEMENTS Revolutionized serve-and-volley play with his powerful serve and aggressive net game.

One of the most recognizable tennis stars of the 1980s and 1990s, inspiring a generation of young players with his talent and flamboyant personality.

Achieved the number 1 ranking in the world.

Won six Grand Slam singles titles: 3 Wimbledon (1985, 1986, 1989), 2 Australian Open (1991, 1996), 1 US Open (1989).

Won three year-end championships (1988, 1992, 1995) and an Olympic gold medal in doubles (1992) with Michael Stich.

Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.