“It’s by far my favourite tournament,??? enthuses Boris, “not only because I won it a few times but because I like the city very much, I have gathered an enormous amount of friends there over the years, and the whole atmosphere in itself is very unique,??? he tells Judy Leighton. First of all you never play on grass anywhere else, secondly it’s the most traditional, probably the oldest tournament and the most important. The setting is very unique and those combination of things makes it so special.???

In fact, Boris goes so far as to say that very few experiences in his career matched that of Wimbledon. “All the best tennis moments, more or less, I had at that tournament,??? he smiles wistfully. “Definitely my first victory in 1985 was very special, but also the year before, when I left the court on a stretcher – I had to be carried off because I had a broken ankle.???

He pauses as a host of memories flash through his mind’s eye.“Every year has been special,??? he decides, and as he won the title three times and reached the final seven times, it’s hard to disagree. Even though he enjoyed enormous success elsewhere in his career (winning the Australian Open twice, the US Open once and the Olympic doubles title with Michael Stich in 1992 as well as 43 other ATP singles titles) it’s clear that coming back to Wimbledon is like coming home to Boris.

So what could be more fitting than he
joins the BBC to add some spice and some straight-talking to its commentary team.

“For me it’s always important to come back every year to Wimbledon,??? he agrees, “and since I’m not playing any more it’s very appropriate now that I can join the television team at the BBC, and hopefully I’ll do a good job.

“I did a match for the BBC as a guest commentator two years ago,??? he recalls. “It was a semi-final between Ivanisevic and Krajicek, which took over four-and-a-half hours, so I started to like the job in that time frame.???

And, Boris being Boris, he won’t be afraid to be as hard-hitting in the commentary box as he was on court.“I think people have respected me through the years because of my honest words and my credibility,??? he says. “I’m not someone who’ll fool around much. If I have an opinion about a certain player, about a certain match, about a certain draw or whatever then I will express it and I think that’s what people have come to expect of me.???

He’s taking his new role seriously and has already been preparing for the job in hand. “Tennis is my hobby, I’ve always followed it a lot over the years, but I’ve gathered a lot more information the last couple of weeks,??? he reveals. “I’ve been more involved the last three or four months than, let’s say, last year.???

With his very public paternity suit and ensuing divorce, Boris has had a few distractions from his sport in recent times – but being so famous and such a figurehead it’s inevitable that whatever happens in Boris’s life, it will make the headlines. It’s arguable that these days even the biggest stars of the tennis circuit don’t have that same appeal and, frankly, glamour.

“I was amongst the McEnroes and the Connors and the Lendls, in later years Edberg joined us and Agassi, Sampras at their height,??? muses Boris. “I wouldn’t say really that there are fewer characters now, but they don’t have the opportunity to show what they have inside, they are too strict within the tour and they have to play too many times, so there are a number of reasons why you don’t have as many personalities.???

On the whole he reckons men’s tennis isn’t quite at the peak it was in his heyday.

“I think it really never lacked drama and excitement at Wimbledon, if you just think about last year – but that’s not really a good example of the general state of men’s tennis. I think the Grand Slams are still in a very unique situation and they will always be great, they’re in a league of their own, but I think the regular tournaments are struggling with their credibility and their importance to the whole tennis community.???

In the same vein, he’s not looking outside the established names for this year’s winner. “That’s the ultimate question I think!??? he laughs when pressed for where his money will be going. “Sampras is a good bet, Agassi is very good again this year, I think Henman has a definite shot at it, and the fourth guy I would put money on is Hewitt. That would be my top four.

“In the women’s championship you should go for the two-time champion Venus Williams, but I think Serena [Williams] is going to give her a run for her money. Last year’s finalist Justine Henin, even though she just lost in the first round in Paris, she’ll be good. It depends how healthy Lindsay Davenport will be after her knee injury.???

One prediction Boris feels pretty safe in making, looking at the current crop of players, is that his own record as the youngest men’s champion won’t be broken just yet.

“I hope not!??? he laughs.“Eventually, in the next 20, 30 years why not, but I’d say in the next five years, I don’t think it’s probable.???

Now a veteran of 34, you feel Boris could still give some of today’s stars a run for their money, though he says he plays purely for fun these days. “It’s something I want to do still, but I don’t have to do every day. I’m still very fit, I play quite a lot of tennis, but I’m also able to do other sports – football, basketball, some golf. In a way that’s a relief – I don’t have to practice for four or five hours every day.???

A massive football fan – he’s on the board of directors at Bayern Munich – Boris may face a dilemma as the semi finals and final of the World Cup clash with the first week’s play at Wimbledon. So will he be pulling a sickie to watch the games?

The famous broad Becker grin flashes one last time. “I’ll have to talk to the directors at the BBC,??? he says diplomatically. “I don’t think at the moment that Germany will reach the semi-final, so I wouldn’t have a problem then – but in a World Cup anything can happen and Germany’s record speaks for itself, so hopefully the boys will go into a run and will surprise everyone.???

So there may be one person at Wimbledon hoping rain stops play – for 90 minutes at least!

This article © 2002 British Broadcasting Corporation.