Boris Becker: Tennis Pro

The world famous tennis star on his wins and losses, his high profile lifestyle and why comebacks are risky, unless you are Michael Jordan.

Even at 45, Boris Becker looks every bit the legendary tennis star who ruled the game in the 80s-90s with his fast returns and smashing hits. As much as we hoot for Federer, Nadal and Murray, the golden boy from Germany still holds the unbeaten record of winning the Wimbledon at just 17. But matches aside, Becker was most famous for swearing, banging rackets on the court and playing the longest game with John McEnroe in the Davis Cup that lasted 6 hours 39 minutes. “We both were bloody tired. However, our record was broken in style by a match in US that lasted for 13 hours,” Becker reminisces.

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Ask him how many rackets he broke and he laughs, “Plenty! What I did wasn’t good. Today the younger guys are role models, but by shouting, screaming and all – it didn’t make me one,” Becker shares.

His flamboyant lifestyle, fancy cars and female adulation made as many headlines as his wins and losses. Unbeatable on hard surfaces, but never a favourite on clay, Becker won all grand slams except the French Open. “I wish I had one of that too, but then I was never meant for clay.”

When asked to pick his toughest rival, he says, “It’s tough to choose one, as you meet all of them in any tournament. You defeat one in the quarterfinal, then you meet the second in semis and then another in the finals. By the end of everything, you’re so tired.” “Fortunately, I didn’t have to play Federer,” he says laughing.

From Germany to Switzerland to London, where he resides today, Boris Becker is the favourite of millions, but he went against his parents’ wishes when he chose tennis. By 17, he was earning millions. “I was this boy from West Germany who became world famous overnight after my Wimbledon win, but it wasn’t an easy win. I kept motivating myself – one more round, one more round, and then I saw we were down to three rounds... But finally, I won,” he adds smiling.

With that victory, a new star had risen in tennis and Boris went on to play for the next 15 years, defeating opponents to cinch six grand slam titles. “Winning so many was a big deal at that time and you were a hero. Today it’s different.” Becker’s returns were so speedy that he was nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’. “Surprisingly, it was Vijay Amritraj who gave me that moniker,” Boris informs us.

But off-court, his love life was always under the scanner too. “It had to be as I was in love with an African whom I eventually married. When word got out, there was slight outrage – I mean a white guy marrying an African and we’re talking of the 80s...” he trails off.

That marriage though ended thanks to his infidelity at the same time as his retirement. “I had lost my last match and was upset, which led to certain things, but I don’t regret it because the result of it was my beautiful daughter.”

Quiz him about whether it’s okay to make a comeback like Schumacher and he shoots back, “It’s risky, unless you’re Michael Jordan!” “Retirement is a well-thought decision and one doesn’t make it in haste,” he says before signing off.

From the December 2012 issue of FHM India.