Benjamin Becker

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Benjamin Becker

Country	Germany
Residence	Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
Date of birth	June 16, 1981
Place of birth	Merzig, Saarland, Germany
Height	5 ft 10 in (177 cm)
Weight	174 lb (79 kg)
Turned Pro	2005
Plays	Right
Career Prize Money	$322,850 (USD)
Singles
Career record:	16 - 16
Career titles:	0
Highest ranking:	38 (March 05, 2007)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open	1r (2007)
French Open	-
Wimbledon	2r (2006)
U.S. Open	4r (2006)
Doubles
Career record:	1 - 2
Career titles:	0
Highest ranking:	229 (February 5, 2006)
Infobox last updated on: February 20, 2007.

Benjamin Becker (born June 16, 1981 in Merzig, Saarland, Germany) is a professional tennis player.

Becker is not related to former World No. 1 Boris Becker. He won the 2004 NCAA singles title while helping Baylor University to the team title.

In June 2006, he qualified for Wimbledon and defeated Juan Ignacio Chela before losing in the second round to Fernando Verdasco.

At the 2006 U.S. Open, he defeated Filippo Volandri and #30 seed Sébastien Grosjean to reach the third round. On September 3, he defeated Andre Agassi 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Agassi, who had announced the Open would be his final tournament, received an 8-minute standing ovation after the match, which Becker participated in. Becker was defeated the next day by Andy Roddick in the fourth round.

The 2006 U.S. Open sparked Benjamin to become a household name on the ATP Tour. Not only did he defeat the poster boy of the United States of America tennis, Andre Agassi, but he began his tear up the rankings. At the start of 2006, Becker was ranked #421. One year later he has moved all the way to #38 and continues his rise with every tournament.

The 2007 season has been quite a year so far for Benjamin. In reaching his first semi-final appearance in the ATP event held in Delray Beach International Tennis Championships he lost to world #8 James Blake. This match could not have been tighter as it was Blake who won 79 total points to Benjamin's 78 total points. The other semi-final appearance in 2007 was in San Jose at the SAP Open where Becker lost to the tallest man on the ATP Tour (6'10") Ivo Karlovic.

At the end of 2006 Benjamin was awarded Sportsman of the Year in his part of the country. Germany has treated Benjamin with great respect and believes he is part of a new generation of rising stars for German Tennis. Becker's proudest moment this year would have to be representing Germany in the 3-2 victory of a Davis Cup tie against the 2005 Davis Cup Champions Croatia. This tie was very important for Benjamin as it was his unveiling of the Boris Becker tennis clothing line. Boris has been a long time hero of Benjamin as he watched him become an icon not only in Germany but throughout the tennis world. Germany's next tie will be against Belgium on April 6-8, 2007 at the Sleuyter Arena in Ostend, Belgium.

2006 Newcomer of the Year

The 2006 ATP Awards were handed out on March 26, 2007. The Newcomer of the Year was awarded to Benjamin Becker. After completing his first season on the ATP Tour, Benjamin made the fastest rise of any player into the top 50. Climbing 419 positions from the following year solidified this Newcomer of the Year to be the next standout player.

Becker has also played a match against Jiří Novák in Tokyo that finished at 3:24 a.m., making it the latest finish to a match in ATP history.

Becker's primary weapon is a very big serve that he can hit in the 140's (mph).

[edit] Highlights

Semifinalist at the ATP San Jose Event

Semifinalist at the ATP Delray Beach Event

Semifinalist at the ATP Tokyo Event

Won the Salinas Challenger Tournament

Winner of Two Canadian Futures Events

Winner of the Singles & Doubles Waco, TX Futures Event

Winner of Laguna Niguel Futures Event

Winner of the Toronto Doubles Futures Event

[edit] Titles

7 Career

[edit] External links

• Official website
• ATP Profile
• Baylor University Profile