In 1988, Eric Jellen from Trier participated in certainly one of the greatest successes in German tennis with Boris Becker. They will meet once more this weekend at the Davis Cup in Trier.
From the Scandinavian stand in Gothenburg, the German followers chanted: “Two extra. Only two,” he shouted. On December 19, 1988, Eric Yehlen of Trier was on the service line and two factors away from his best victory.
In entrance of him is his doubles associate Boris Becker. The two might make tennis historical past that day.
German Davis Cup workforce in 1988. from left to proper: Boris Becker, Eric Jellen, Patrick Kuenen, Karl Uwe Steb and captain Niki Pilich
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The doubles match towards Swede Edberg/Jerryd lasted three hours at this level. The German double took a 5-2 lead in the fifth set. Sensation appears attainable. But Eric Yellen made two service errors. Swedish followers rejoice.
“It was a fantastic pressure. There will probably be extra relaxed moments than the final service recreation to win the Davis Cup.”
Boris Becker rolled the match ball. Jelen grabbed his companion and lifted him up. The feeling is nice. They defeated the Swedes in their very own corridor and won the Davis Cup for the first time for the German workforce. The pressure at the essential moments was immense. After all, it was about profitable the Davis Cup, Jalen remembers to at the present time.
SAT-1 commentator Sven-Arne Horn even won the 1954 World Cup in Bern. Jelen says: “You are happy with what you may have mastered.”
The workforce that introduced the Davis Cup to Germany for the first time in 2019 will probably be honored once more by the German Tennis Association after 30 years. Boris Becker and Eric Yellen in the center. Patrick Kuennen, left. On the proper is Charlie Stieb, who defeated the then world primary Mats Wilander, thus changing into the hero of Gothenburg.
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Tennis courtroom after faculty
In the early Seventies, the profession of the finest Trier tennis participant of all time appeared already on the playing cards. Eric Jelen grew up in a tennis-loving household. Our 5-yr-previous brother is at all times on the discipline.
“At first I could not resist my youthful brother. He was larger and higher. When I used to be 13-14 years previous, the water turned.”
When one thing was happening at TC Trier, Eric Yehlen was at all times there. As an eight-yr-previous boy at the 1973 Rhineland Tennis Championships.
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Jelen’s mom is a eager tennis participant and a number of Rhineland champion. His older brother, Alexander, who’s 5 years older, is now chairman of the tennis membership in Trier, the place they each realized their first forehands and backhands. “I did not stand an opportunity towards him then. He was a lot older than me. But then the tide turned.”
Communication with Boris Becker was by no means damaged
She had an extended friendship with her then associate Boris Becker. They met in coaching programs once they had been younger. They had been in fixed contact.
It was tougher to fulfill in the mid-Nineteen Eighties, Elen recollects with a smile: “Boris won Wimbledon in 1985 and I needed to be a part of the military. You do not see one another fairly often.”
“Boris is a really shut buddy at present. We saved in contact even after he was launched from jail.”
Boris Becker and Erik Yelen didn’t overlook one another even after their taking part in days. They needed to deal with one another professionally.
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Jan Huebner
Today, Eric Jelen works as a coach and advisor at the Lower Rhine Tennis Association. Previously, he labored in sports activities advertising and marketing. Among different issues, for a corporation owned by Boris Becker. The connection was by no means damaged. “I saved in contact with him even after he was launched from jail,” says Jelen.
Two households meet at the Davis Cup in Trier
He appears ahead to seeing you once more in Trier. On the one hand, with a “sports activities” household. Because alongside with Boris Becker, Karl-Uwe Stieb from the then Davis Cup workforce will even be in Trier. But principally to his mom and brother. They wish to watch the Davis Cup match towards Switzerland collectively in the area.
“My mom used to journey midway round the world to see me at the Davis Cup. She even went to Brazil. Now we’ll watch tennis in Trier. We’ve by no means executed that earlier than,” says Eric Yehlen. he smiled slightly.