I think, in general, if you are able to stay 10 years in the top of the tennis world, you have to play better each year just to stay with the best players, and I think I was able to do that, Becker said. If you compare my game now to 10 years ago I’m playing much better in all areas.

It’s just that the game has gotten better, the players are playing a little better now than they have 10 years ago.

Either you improve every year a little bit or you go down. I was able to hang in with the best guys for the past 10 years and I am very happy about that.

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Marriage and family are often said to lead to the downfall of top players. Becker sees it as a normal part of growing up.

I think I was a bit disappointed by the things I heard a year and a half ago when I did decide to start a family. The saying was,

‘He’s not hungry anymore. (But) my desire for tennis hasn’t changed at all. I think it’s the other way; it has almost gotten more as I got older.

His body can’t withstand the abuse as much anymore, and he strained a calf muscle during the tournament at Queens that put his Wimbledon appearance in jeopardy. But if there’s any place to rejuvenate Becker, it’s Wimbledon.

This is his second home, said Nick Bollettieri, Becker’s coach. He had a little bit of a scare with the leg, but he feels secure out there. He’s hard to beat here.