Boris’s rocket-like serves, his aggressive agility behind the net and his superb serve-and-volley game made him a lethal player on grass. He went on to win twice more at Wimbledon, in 1986 and 1989.
He also won two Australian Open titles (1991 and 1996) and the US Open in 1989, but Wimbledon was easily his favourite Grand Slam and he became something of an adopted son to the Wimbledon crowds. In addition to winning three times, he also appeared in four further finals.
His last Wimbledon appearance was in 1999 when he lost to Patrick Rafter in the fourth round. That year he said: “Wimbledon means more than just winning for me. I’ve had a great time here."
Despite a perceived weakness on clay, he was actually a highly proficient hard-court player and, by the time he retired in 1999 had won 49 singles titles, 15 doubles titles and more than US$25 million in prize money. He was a finalist in the ATP Masters four times, winning in 1988, and he won the ATP Tour World Championships Finals in 1992 and 1995. He also won the Grand Slam Cup in 1996.
Boris led Germany to victory in the Davis Cup twice, their first ever win in 1988, and also in 1989. His career Davis Cup win/loss record stands at 54-12, including an impressive 38-3 in singles. He also won an Olympic gold medal in Barcelona in 1992 where he partnered Michael Stich to win the men's doubles for Germany.
In December 2013, Boris’s tennis career changed significantly when he became head coach to leading player Novak Djokovic. He gave up us his TV commentary work and for three seasons accompanied Djokovic around the world, during which time he won six Grand Slam titles and 14 Masters 1000 titles. Their partnership ended at the end of 2016 and Boris returned to being a TV analyst.
He has never forgotten what he personally gained from the sport and he has been involved in the development of tennis in Germany over the years working with young players. In August 2017 he was named head of men's tennis at the German Tennis Federation
Among his other activities, he has been a board member of Bayern Munich football club, at the instigation of fellow Laureus World Sports Academy Member Franz Beckenbauer, and has consistently supported the work of Laureus Sport for Good in Germany and around the world.
