Boris Becker
> PROFESSION Journalist/Entrepreneur
> AGE 37
> NATIONALITY German
Boris Becker has always been more than an athlete. He is a star. In 1985 – aged just 17 and a year after turning pro – he became the first German to win Wimbledon. And it proved to be no fluke: he went on to win six Grand Slams thanks to his absolute focus and incredible physical presence.
Now, as he heads towards 40, Becker has lost none of his charisma. But these days it’s focused in the worlds of media and business. He is a sports commentator and co-owns Völkl Tennis sports company, as well as having commercial partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, the designer label Strenesse and the International Watch Company (IWC), which has produced a limited edition watch to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of that first Wimbledon victory.
Becker says age is irrelevant: “Numbers don’t matter to me. I couldn’t care less about turning 40. Honestly.” But he accepts that he has grown up. “I’m definitely more relaxed. You put things more in perspective, you don’t take yourself too seriously. You laugh more about yourself. It’s a long learning process but hopefully you become a little wiser every year.”
WORDS: Amy Raphael