Benjamin Becker Returns To School
9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
WACO, Texas - After a successful 12-year pro tennis career, former Baylor men's tennis player Benjamin Becker is coming home to Waco. Becker will complete his final semester of undergraduate coursework this fall after enrolling at Baylor in August.
"Benni's commited to education - for him to come back and get his business degree says a lot about who he is and what kind of character he has," head coach Matt Knoll said. "I think that's a great example for our guys as we're trying to build Champions for Life here."
The Orscholz, Germany native expects to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in management. He also plans to complete an internship in the spring.
"It was always my goal to get my degree," Becker said. "I stopped short one semester. It's a big adjustment to be back at school, so it's a little weird, but being around the team feels great and brings back all the fun memories."
In addition, Becker will also serve as a hitting partner during the Bears' fall practices.
"Benni is one of the great college tennis players of my era," Knoll said. "The opportunity for our guys to work with him daily and practice is really unprecedented. It's fantastic for them."
Since going pro in 2005, "Benni" Becker has maintained Baylor's records for career singles (141) and doubles wins (104). During his four-year career in Waco, he was a three-time singles All-American, a four-time All-Big 12 pick and won the 2004 NCAA singles title while leading the Bears to the school's first-ever team national championship that same year.
In addition, Becker earned Big 12 Freshman and ITA Region IV Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 when he went 37-9 in singles and 21-8 in doubles and finished the season ranked 11th nationally.
After earning All-America honors the next year and leading Baylor to the ITA Indoor Championship and a runner-up NCAA finish, Becker began a pro career that has seen him earn more than $4 million. Between 2006 and '15, he ended the season ranked in the top 100 eight times, reaching a career-high mark of No. 35 on Oct. 27, 2014.
One of his most memorable pro wins came in the third round of the 2006 US Open against former World No. 1 Andre Agassi. Winning in four sets, Becker triumphed in Agassi's final match.
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