Benjamin Becker facts for kids
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Becker at the 2015 French Open
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| Country (sports) |  Germany |
|---|---|
| Residence | Mettlach, Germany |
| Born | 16 July 1981 Merzig, Saarland, West Germany |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Turned pro | 2005 |
| Retired | 2017 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| College | Baylor Bears |
| Prize money | US$4,399,584 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 153–220 (41.02%) |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 35 (27 October 2014) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2015) |
| French Open | 3R (2015) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) |
| US Open | 4R (2006) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 58–106 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 58 (5 July 2010) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2011) |
| French Open | 2R (2010, 2012) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2007) |
| US Open | 2R (2010) |
Benjamin Becker (born June 16, 1981) is a former professional tennis player from Germany. He is famous for playing against the legendary Andre Agassi in Agassi's final professional match at the 2006 US Open.
During his career, Becker reached a high ranking of world No. 35 in singles in October 2014. He is not related to another famous German tennis player, Boris Becker.
Contents
Early Life and College Tennis
Benjamin Becker was born in Merzig, West Germany. His father, Jörg, worked at a tax office, and his mother's name is Ulrike. He also has a younger sister.
Before becoming a professional, Becker played tennis for Baylor University in the United States from 2001 to 2005. He was a huge star in college tennis. In 2004, he won the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) singles championship and helped his team, the Baylor Bears, win the team championship. He holds the school record for the most wins in both singles and doubles. It's not very common for top male players to finish a full four years of college before turning pro, but Becker did.
Professional Career
A Famous Match at the US Open
The year 2006 was a huge one for Becker. He started the year ranked No. 421 in the world but quickly climbed up. At the 2006 US Open, he made it to the third round. There, he faced one of the greatest players of all time, Andre Agassi.
This match was very special because Agassi had already announced he would retire after the tournament. This meant it was his last-ever professional match. Becker played brilliantly and won in four sets. After the match, the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium gave Agassi a standing ovation that lasted for eight minutes. The next day, Becker's own journey in the tournament ended when he lost to Andy Roddick in the fourth round.
Because of his amazing progress, Becker jumped to No. 62 in the world rankings by the end of 2006. He was given the "Newcomer of the Year" award by the ATP.
Career Highlights
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In 2007, Becker continued to play well. He reached the semifinals at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships and the SAP Open in San Jose. These performances helped him reach his highest ranking at the time, No. 38 in the world.
In 2009, Becker won his first and only ATP World Tour title. He won the Ordina Open, a grass-court tournament in the Netherlands.
Over the next few years, Becker was a steady player on the tour. He reached the semifinals of several tournaments in 2010. He also played in all the major tournaments, known as Grand Slams: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
In 2014, he had another strong year and reached his career-high ranking of No. 35 in the world on October 27. He made it to the final of the grass-court tournament in Rosmalen, Netherlands, which he had won in 2009, but lost to Roberto Bautista Agut. Becker retired from professional tennis in 2017.
ATP career finals
Singles: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)
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| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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| Loss | 0–1 | Sep 2007 | Thailand Open, Thailand | International | Hard (i) |  Dmitry Tursunov |
2–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Jun 2009 | Rosmalen Championships, Netherlands | 250 Series | Grass |  Raemon Sluiter |
7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Jun 2014 | Rosmalen Championships, Netherlands | 250 Series | Grass |  Roberto Bautista Agut |
6–2, 6–7(2–7), 4–6 |
Doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups)
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| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Aug 2009 | Los Angeles Open, United States | International | Hard | Frank Moser |
 Bob Bryan Mike Bryan |
4–6, 6–7(2–7) |
| Loss | 0–2 | Feb 2010 | Pacific Coast Championships, United States | 250 Series | Hard (i) |  Leonardo Mayer |
Mardy Fish Sam Querrey |
6–7(3–7), 5–7 |
See also
In Spanish: Benjamin Becker para niños
