On June 23, 2025, tennis legend Boris Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, expressed frustration over what he perceives as a bias toward Carlos Alcaraz and other young stars in ATP promotions, following his exclusion from an elite list of young champions and a potential snub from Wimbledon’s BBC commentary team, per EssentiallySports. The controversy began when Tennis TV posted about the youngest ATP Tour champions since 1990, highlighting João Fonseca’s Argentina Open win at 18 years, 5 months, and 26 days, alongside names like Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal, and Alcaraz (18y 2m 20d). Becker, who won Wimbledon at 17 in 1985, the youngest men’s singles champion in tournament history, commented, “Did you forget about me? … BB,” pointing out his omission despite his record-breaking achievement, per.
Becker’s irritation was compounded by reports that he may not return to BBC’s Wimbledon commentary box in 2025, despite his deep connection to the tournament, where he reached seven finals and calls Centre Court “his living room,” per EssentiallySports. After serving eight months in a UK prison for bankruptcy-related charges and being deported in 2022, Becker is now eligible to re-enter the UK but faces uncertainty, with TNT Sports also reportedly declining to reinstate him, per. On X, Becker vented, “Why would you always reduce to this century and disrespect the history of tennis 🎾?!?” alongside a stat graphic noting his 116 grass-court wins, ranking him 15th all-time, per. Despite the snubs, Becker praised Alcaraz’s 2024 Wimbledon title, noting he’s one win from matching his three Wimbledon crowns, per EssentiallySports.
Alcaraz, fresh off his second Queen’s Club title on June 22, 2025, with a 29-3 grass-court record, is a Wimbledon favorite, per BBC Sport. Becker’s legacy, with four grass titles including Queen’s Club (four times), remains unmatched by most, though Alcaraz, at 22, has now equaled his grass-title count, per Puntodebreak. The spat highlights tensions between tennis’ storied past and its focus on new stars like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, per ATP Tour.
