Boris Becker was 17 when he first won Wimbledon in 1985.
Becker defeated South Africa’s Kevin Curren in the men’s singles final, winning 6–3, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4. Born on 22 November 1967, he was 17 years and 227 days old when he lifted the trophy on 7 July 1985.
The victory was historic beyond Becker’s age. He became the first unseeded player, the first German, and the youngest men’s singles champion in Wimbledon history at the time. His powerful serve and aggressive volleying earned him the nickname “Boom Boom.”
A common mix-up is confusing his first Wimbledon title with his first major championship: they were the same event. Becker successfully defended the Wimbledon title in 1986, then won it again in 1989. His record as the youngest Wimbledon men’s singles champion stood until Carlos Alcaraz won in 2023 at age 20.