Nickname is “Bege”…Speaks German and English…Parents, Dieter and Karin, are both retired…His father was a semi-professional football player, who played in German Second Division; “I was also meant to play professional football, but I changed my mind aged 12 and chose to pursue a career in tennis”…Sister, Caroline, is a police officer… Started playing tennis aged seven, in a small village of 400 people…”There wasn’t any courts, but I used a friend’s racquet for a year before finally getting my own and started taking a lesson per week. I got serious later”…Supports a charity that helps people diagnosed with cancer…Studied at Pepperdine University, where he won the NCAA DIV I National Team Championships in 2006…Goals in tennis include to play Davis Cup for Germany, to play at an Olympic Games  and to become a Top 10 doubles player…Favourite surface is grass and shot is the drop shot volley…Favourite tournament is Wimbledon and his idols growing up were Boris Becker and Pete Sampras…Hobbies include football (supports Borussia Dortmund), listening to music and surfing…Favourite personalities includes Oliver Khan (football) and Xavier Naidoo (singer)…Physical trainer is Filippo Gambelli (since 2012)…