Update 5:00 pm. It should be no surprise a German named Becker succeeds on a tennis court.
But Benjamin Becker still produced the first big shock of the Brisbane International by bundling out world No.9 Fernando Verdasco in the first round on Tuesday.
World No.53 Becker upset the third seed 6-1 6-7(2) 6-3 in just over two hours at Pat Rafter Arena.
Then in the women’s draw, Czech Lucie Safarova bounced out Israeli second seed Shahar Peer 3-6 6-1 7-5 in a two-and-a-half hour second-round epic.
Becker, 29, is no relation to six-time Grand Slam champion Boris – but that doesn’t stop questions about his famous namesake.
Not that Becker minds.
Indeed he has embraced the legacy left behind by Boris Becker.
He has befriended the former world No.1 and even worn his tennis gear – from the clothing line “Boris Becker by Volkl”, that is.
“Obviously I get asked if I am related to Boris at every tournament – I am used to it, it doesn’t bother me,” Becker said on Tuesday.
“I was wearing his clothes for three years, I have met him, I have played against him, played with him – he is a good guy.
“It’s not as though people compare me to Boris or expect me to win Wimbledon.
“For me there’s no comparison.
“He was a prodigy – we are totally different.”
But Becker took a step towards making a name for himself by rattling off a second-straight win over Verdasco, backing up from last year’s victory over the left-handed Spaniard in Bangkok.
Beating a top 10 player is no mean feat but Becker wasn’t getting ahead of himself.
His modest plan for 2011 was trying to regain his career-best world ranking of 40 in 2009.
“It’s just one win, it doesn’t really change anything,” said Becker, who turned pro in 2005.
Becker’s heroics were a hard act to follow, but world No.33 Safarova did her best in her come-from-behind victory.
She saved a match point trailing 5-4 in the third set against the world No.13.
Then the 23-year-old left-hander brought the Pat Rafter Arena faithful to their feet when she finally closed out the match.
While Verdasco and Peer crashed out, fourth seed Mardy Fish of the US had no problems.
He thrashed French qualifier Adrian Mannarino in the first round 6-1 6-4 in 78 minutes.
Fifth seed Marcos Baghdatis is scheduled to take on France’s Florent Serra in the first round later on Tuesday while top seeded Swede Robin Soderling will open the evening program against American qualifier Ryan Harrison.
But former world top 20 player Arnaud Clement of France wasn’t so lucky.
The former Australian Open runner-up was upset by Lithuanian qualifier Richard Berankis 6-4 6-3.
Out on Show Court 1, it was almost a similar end for 2009 champion and 2010 finalist Radek Stepanek who came back from a set behind to down German, 24-year-old Tobias Kamke, 5-7 6-1 6-4.
Stepanek clicked into gear in the second set before Kamke, the 2010 ATP Newcomer of the Year, made him work for it in the third. Stepanek will face fourth seed Mardy Fish in the second round.
Tickets are still available for Brisbane International 2011 from Ticketek.