Australian Peter Doohan, who famously upset Boris Becker at Wimbledon, has died at the age of 56, Tennis Australia said on Saturday.

Doohan, dubbed the ‘Becker Wrecker’ after defeating two-time defending champion Becker at Wimbledon in 1987, passed away from motor neurone disease diagnosed just nine weeks ago.

Doohan reached a career-high world ranking of 43 and won five titles.
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“Peter was unbeaten in Davis Cup representation. He won the South Australian Open singles title and reached No.15 in doubles,” TA said in a statement.

“Following his retirement, Peter coached in the United States, after first studying at the University of Arkansas, where he was all-American and a NCAA champion. He returned to live in Australia in 2009.”

Becker paid tribute to Doohan, who knocked out the German defending champion, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon’s history.

“My heartfelt condolences to the family of #PeterDoohan! The tennis fraternity lost a great guy and wonderful player,” Becker said on social media.

“RIP mate! You were the better player.”

TA said the tennis community rallied around Doohan with a number of fund raisers during his battle with a particularly aggressive form of motor neurone disease.