Plans have been unveiled for the new luxurious Boris Becker Resort and Tennis Academy. Boris, who played a significant role in the design of the facility, will co-manage the Tennis Academy in conjunction with his longtime friend and former Davis Cup partner Eric Jelen. Together they will hand pick a team of qualified coaches to staff the facility which is designed to teach tennis at all levels and ensure that the young protégées are well groomed in the art of tennis. This world class Academy will have 6 courts, a complete modern training and fitness centre, a state of the art spa, and just about every conceivable luxury that money can buy. The total project that will include a 5 star Hotel, several fancy restaurants, waterfalls, pools and a marine themed ballroom will be completed by 2010 and cost an estimated 2 billion! Boris will own 50% of the Tennis Academy and a considerable chunk of the entire project.

This architecturally futuristic complex is being built at the entrance of Ras Al Khaimah’s lush Al Marjan Island, and its 2.5 million square feet of space will span the island from coast to coast in a duel ocean-front panorama of lush tropical gardens and marine exhibits. Ras Al Khaimah is one of the fastest growing Emirates in the UAE with a potential growth expected to reach 750,000 by 2020 and with a visitor population of close to 2.5 million by the same date.

Boris is also deeply involved in several other successful business ventures. He owns a complete tennis clothing and apparel company, his own brand of rackets and shoes, he’s a member of the PokerStars Tour, and a frequent guest on many TV talk shows. His personal life is a shambles. He was mired in a messy divorce from his first wife Barbara Feltus for months, she finally received custody of their two children and a settlement for about $15 million. He has custody of his other daughter Anna, the result of a much publicized one night stand with a girl in London.

Becker rose to fame as the youngest player to win at Wimbledon, he was 17 at the time, and he became a favourite of fans for his acrobatic antics on court. He possessed charisma, character and an appeal that has never been duplicated by any other player before or since. He pocketed more than $25 million in prize money, and heaven knows how much from his endorsements. He won 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles during his career, including 3 Wimbledons, 2 Australian Opens and 1 US Open. He resides in Schwyz Switzerland, but is often seen anywhere that tennis is being played. He shows up at most Grand Slam events where he is a commentator for German TV. You can bet he will be at the 2009 Australian Open, where in addition to his official function he will be looking for coaches for his new Tennis Academy, and lobbying for the Open to be moved to Dubai!

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