Philipp Kohlschreiber
A German tennis craftsman with a sublime one-handed backhand who consistently troubled the sport's biggest names.
Born 1983 (age 43)·German tennis player·Birthday: October 16·Millennials
Biography
For nearly two decades, Philipp Kohlschreiber was a fixture on the ATP Tour, a player whose elegant game often punched above his ranking. The German, with his classic one-handed backhand and crisp ball-striking, was a perennial danger in early rounds, capable of unsettling any top player on his day. He never broke into the very top echelon, but his career was a model of high-level consistency, claiming eight ATP singles titles, mostly on his beloved clay and grass. His finest Grand Slam moment came at Wimbledon in 2012, where he reached the quarterfinals, showcasing a game perfectly suited for the lawns. Kohlschreiber was also a stalwart for Germany in Davis Cup, amassing a strong record. He retired in 2022 leaving a legacy as a respected opponent whose technical beauty and fighting spirit made him a favorite among purists.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Philipp was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Philipp Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Philipp's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships in 2012, his best Grand Slam singles result.
- Won eight ATP Tour singles titles, including three at the Bavarian Championships in Munich.
- Achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 16 in July 2012.
- Represented Germany in Davis Cup for over a decade, playing 17 ties.
Did You Know?
He is an avid fan of the football club Bayern Munich.
He won the junior title at Wimbledon in 2002, in boys' doubles.
His wife, Lena, is a former model and TV presenter.
“My backhand is my signature; it's a shot of precision, not just power.”
