Boris Becker, 'Boom Boom Boris', burst onto the scene in 1985 when grass-court tennis in particular needed a new hero with John McEnroe's dominance on the wane.

The young German was a breath of fresh air as he brought a new approach to the game, serving and volleying but also displaying amazing athleticism as he chased every ball and would hurl himself headlong around the court.

Boris Becker, born on November 22nd 1967, first showed he would be a force to reckon with on grass by winning the Queen's Club title in 1985 and just a few weeks later added the Wimbledon crown at the age of 17.

He successfully defended the title at the All England Club in 1986 but had to wait three more years for the third and fourth of his six Grand Slams to come along, winning Wimbledon and the US Open in 1989.

His subsequent Grand Slam triumphs were both at the Australian Open in 1991 and 1996.

The only Grand Slam finals Boris Becker lost were at Wimbledon, where he was defeated in four showdowns, two of which were against Stefan Edberg, with whom he dominated grass-court tennis in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He was beaten by Michael Stich, a fellow German and fierce rival, in the 1991 final but teamed up with his compatriot to win the doubles gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Following his retirement in 1999 Boris Becker has maintained a high public profile due to his media work and aspects of his private life.