The Boris Becker Serve

An “open” grip, and a strong, loose wrist—two keys to the Boris Becker serve. Did Boris Becker have one of the greatest serves of all time, not just his own era? What made it so distinctive and effective? How did he develop it? And finally, how does Becker himself feels it compares to pro serves today? Between 1984 and 1999, Becker won 49 tour singles titles – including six Grand Slams. His knick name was “Boom Boom,” as in two booms. The first boom was the sound of the ball coming off his racket. The second was the sound of it hitting the wall. (To study Becker’s serve for yourself in the Tennisplayer Archive, Click Here.) Becker now works as an analyst for the European cable channel Sky Sports. On the last Friday of the US Open, I stood next to him on the balcony of the Sky Sports set, overlooking the practice courts at the far end of the National Tennis Center. Below us Rafael Nadal was practicing his serve before his semifinal match the next day against Richard Gasquet. As Rafa hit serves wide in the ad court, Becker shared some thoughts about the serving mechanics of the…