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Last Updated: Wednesday, 18 June, 2003, 07:39 GMT 08:39 UK
Wimbledon legends: Boris Becker
Boris Becker
Born: 22/11/67
Leimen, Germany
Wimbledon titles: 1985, 1986, 1989
Runner up: 1988, 1990, 1991,1995
Grand Slam titles: 6
Prize money: $24,905,117

Boris Becker burst onto the scene in 1985 when, as an unknown 17-year-old, he rewrote the record books by winning the Wimbledon title.

Not only was he the youngest player ever to win, he was also the first unseeded player to become champion and the first German.

His style of play was based around a huge serve that earned him the nickname 'Boom Boom' and on the grass at Wimbledon he threw himself around for diving volleys that made him a hero for youth all around the world.

His heavy forehand and returns of serve were also factors in his rise to the top.

In Germany, his impact cannot be over-estimated.

Girls would camp all night outside hotel rooms where they thought he was staying and his devotion to the nation's Davis Cup team earned an incredible record of 38 wins and just three losses.

And if anyone thought his win in 1985 was a fluke, he came back the next year and did exactly the same thing again.

From 1985 until 1993 he was never out of the top 10 and in in 1991 he became world number one after winning the Australian Open, a title he also picked up in 1996.

His Wimbledon victories came against Kevin Curren, Ivan Lendl and his greatest rival Stefan Edberg, although the Swede did beat him for his two titles in 1988 and 1990.

He also won the US Open in 1989 and recorded 49 tournament victories in his career, which ended where it began, on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

In 1999 he made an emotional return to SW19, losing in the fourth round to Pat Rafter.





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