Tune in at 16:00 London, 19:00 UAE
Live from Abu Dhabi Connect the World takes you on a journey across continents, investigating the stories that are changing our world.
Friday's Connector of the Day – Boris Becker
With his trademark strawberry blond hair and athletic frame, Boris Becker is one of the world's most recognizable tennis players - and one of the most distinguished.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/13/boris_blog.jpg
caption ="Boris Becker on the court in 1996 at the Australian Open."]
Becker is a six-time Grand Slam single's champion and Olympic gold medallist - he is also the youngest person to have ever won the men's single title at Wimbledon at the age of 17.
Born in Germany in 1967, Becker had an early connection with the sport - his father was an architect and built the tennis center in his town.
It wasn't until he stormed the world stage at Wimbledon in 1985 that his name was really put out there as a formidable force in the world of tennis.
After his Wimbledon win, Becker never looked back - winning tournament after tournament.
Standing at more than six feet two inches tall, Becker's game was well known for a powerful serve and heavy returns. Over the course of his career he won a total of 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles.
He finally retired from the world of tennis in 1999 and was admitted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2003.
Here's your chance to ask Boris your questions.
Perhaps you'd like to know how he got to where he is today or maybe you just want some tips on your serve. Whatever you want to ask, here's your chance.
Please leave your questions below.
Hi Boris,
Now that you are retired, what is a typical day like?
Best regards
Jeff – Chicago, IL
Hi Boris,
I have always been a great fan of yours and a great admirer of your game..All these years I have been closely following tennis and been watching some great players but you will always hold the top spot in my list. I can bet nobody in this sport has the Charisma to attract people to your game as you can. I have one question to you (This is more of a request)...Why don't you start some tennis academy and guide youngsters to reach the pinnacle of this sport. I very rarely see you engaged in some Tennis programs (I last remember you did a program in BBC). We would want you to be involved more with this sport. We want to see more of you along with tennis. I hope we get to see you as often as during your earlier playing days.
All the very best and please continue to inspire more and more people.
Thanks
Ramu
Boris,
Who would win in a match between you in your prime and Roger Federer now?
KFK-
Who was the best player, in your opinion, you played against? Why?
Hi, Boris,
The question I'd like to ask is – when you were on the tour, what parts of that experience helped you grow and were valuable for your life today? What did you learn that anyone can apply to their lives in terms of relationships and managing a hectic schedule?
Hi,
I must say I always admired your game.
Can you give me your 2 cents for a great forehand shot.
Thanks,
Shai
Boris, which of your many great matches was your best? Mine was when you come back 2 sets down to Agassi at Wimbledon '95. I still have it taped (VHS) and watch it from time to time.
Thanks,
Robert
Boris: I'm a fan (not of your clockish serve prep), but from your affability and commentary now at Wimbledon. Is it true what Andre said of you and Brooke Shields (blowing kisses)? I'll give you benefit of answering first–go ahead and give your gripes (don't make a book out of it, for goodness sakes, but answer in your own time).
Best,
Chad in Japan
alo boris- what one match from your great career would you have liked the opportunity to have replayed, for whatever reason? thank you!
Hi Boris,
I was always a great fan of your game and although I believe that Roger Federer is probably the more complete tennis player, your presence on the court was more appealing to me, because you seemed more inspired and were certainly a more charismatic person.
Most people who end up being very famous, have something in their childhood which (combined with the right amount of talent) drives them to become a winner. Often there is some negative stimulus (abuse, bullying, loss of a parent, dominant father, poverty, etc) which is the main reason for their aspirations, but it can be positive too.
Sorry about the long question, but in brief: why did you want to be one of the best tennis players in the world (other than that you were marginally better at it than football/soccer)? What was your positive/negative primal drive?
Hi Boris,
We sure miss your tennis style, play and incredible serves! Are you teaching tennis anywhere?
Claudia
Hi Boris,
Huge fan of yours. I followed your career ever since you beat Kevin Curren in the Wimbledon Final.
Any chance you may play on the veterans tour?.... I would love to see you play against Stefan Edberg again....
Hi Boris Becker,
Despite the fact that your records – both number of tournaments and grand slams – are not up there in the top 20, you're always considered one of the greats - that really says something about the effect your style of play had on people. It's not all about the end result sometimes. But speaking of results, do you regret, or rather wished you had done more, about your record on clay? I imagine that it probably doesn't bother you, because after all these years you have the perspective, but at the time was it something that consumed you at all – in the same vein that Wimbledon consumed Lendl and the French did with Federer.
Thanks.
rgds.
Reyaaz
Johannesburg, South Africa
Hi Boris, I have been a big fan of yours and just want you to know that I am very proud of who you are, being one of those to making a life changing decision in Germany, in your choice of women.
Hello Boris – The field is getting tighter in Mens tennis- Who do you predict will be #1 in mens by the end of 2010? Thanks
Hi Boris
Can you tell us what kind of techniques you have used to fight the psychological side of the game? Thank you.
Boris
When and how did you realize you could become a one of the best tennis players ever?
Sergio
Mexico
Boris,
Do they still call you Boom-Boom?
Hi Boris
How are you.
My first born son is called Boris after you as you are a great tennis player. He is 12 yrs old now and he is a chinese boy.
I would love to see you play against Roger Federa.
Regards.
Angelina
Hi Boris:
It is an honor to contact you!
Could you tell me who you consider to be the best tennis player of all times and why do you think so? and Could you tell me what advise would you give in order to achive success?
Kindly regards and respect,
Wilhem Jeldes C.
Dominican Republic
http://www.injelsa.com
Hi Boris,
Did you ever hate tennis? How do you feel about it now?
Thanks!
Angelo (from the Philippines)
Hi Boris
How much work did it take for you to become a winner. Mentally, what do you think set you apart from the ordinary tennis player.
Guten Tag Boris,
Loved your serve and volley.
Question. What is your opinion of Stefan Edberg as an opponent? And who would you rate as your toughest opponent?
Hi Boris,
I have been a huge fan of yours since I was a kid. When I got the chance to watch you play live in Grand Slams, it was probably to be your downturn back in '93. However, you still manged to reach the semis in Wimbledon in '93 and '94, not to mention the '95 final against Pete. ( Especially you won the first set) I was thrilled watching you fight your way through the '96 Australian Open to win your sixth Grand Slam. (Five sets against Rudseski, QF against Kafelnikov, SF against Woodforde, F against Chang) I am most moved by your kind words to Chang. ( My days are numbered...)
My question for you is that will you plan on some exhibition tour around the globe in the near future to let the fans have the opportunity to watch you square off against Edberg, Lendl or Agassi?
Hi Boris,
In today's high profile world of big money sports, I see that loss of fame with icons is generally a meteoric crash. Take the example of Tiger Woods. He is supposed to be respected for his golf, like you for your tennis. I was a great fan of yours and still am, so am I of Woods. But the infamy he is encountering at the moment does not make him any less of a player in my eyes, shouldn't either to anybody. He is still one of the greatest golfers of all time, like you are in tennis. My question is, how would you suggest someone handle such a situation when he or she is in s similar position?
Regards
Arjun B
Bangalore, India.
hello boris, glad to have the opportunity to thank you for the talent and mental pleasure you brought to the us open, loved those 2 a.m matches with lendl !....good luck to you and yours boris....love and peace, marilyn
Hi Boris,
You always had a great serve. A couple of questions: is it true you didn't serve with a continental grip? Did you consciously think of "snapping your wrist", or just keep everything loose and let it just happen, like with pronation? Did you think of hitting up and across?
Thanks for you time,
Phil
Lugano, Switzerland
Hi, are any of your children a good tennis player and would you encourage them to become professional if they were ?
Dany Charbachy
Bourg La Reine
France
Boris,
Du warst grossartige!. Tennis misses you, best toss ever and a great personality. I´m scared when RF retires don´t share the views that the remaining players can match your generation, Sampras, Agassi, Edberg, each one a super player in his own kind, king amongst kings. Do we see this emerging from the end of the Federer era! By no means.
Arugula
Hi Boris,
Not a question, just a small note to let you know I enjoyed watching you play always!
Yvonne Westhoek
Leiden
The Netherlands
Hi Boris!
if you should make a choice from among winter sports, what you would select?
Peter Szucs, Hungary
Hi. If you get a challenge now to play with the world's best would you take it? And how do you think you will perform?
Hello Boris, if you were given the chance to choose between this current era and the previous era (your era) for you to play in, which will you choose and why. Med Watt from Sierra Leone.
Hi,Boris, u've really made a great history in d world of tennis.my question is:what were ur challenges on d road of this success?
It´s amazing and impressive to see how countries around the world are responding to the disaster in Haiti. More impressive is the fact that they are offering hundreds of millions of dollars in help and support. I really appreciate all that but what baffles me is that this same countries are the so called world powers t...hat cannot meet eye to eye on issues that are threatening our existence on this earth like GLOBAL WARMING, NUCLEAR STOCK PILING and FUNDING OF TERRORISM.
Isn´t it time we ought to start seeing beyond our noses, that our actions can cost even more lives than an earthquake, tzunami, hurricane, tornado etc. This is perhaps a wake up call to all leaders of this world that we all are as helpless as the Haitians facing this very horrible time in their lives if faced by the horror of our creation .
My heart goes out to the entire nation of Haiti and I pray that God gives them the courage to bear these immence lose.
hi Boris,would you hav one a game with federer if you were in his era.
Thats a good developement.i like it.
Hi
in my opinion, i think boris is the best guy. However i would wanna ask 2 questions, first of all, who has been his greatest hinderance throughout all his life and secondly, has he been able to achieve his goal?...thank you.
Hi Boris,
for me you are the best tennis player (most wins against world number 1 ewer). The best ball kontrol in history.
You play your best tennis in the end of 1996 and next year you seemed as you have mo more pasion for wins.
What was hapend?
Best regards.