The three-time Wimbledon champion told German broadcaster Sat1 that he had learned a hard lesson and that the experience gained “was worth it”. Becker confessed that as a prisoner he was not addressed by name and “no one cared” about his status as champion. He stressed that he used his 231 days in prison to reflect on his life and rediscover the human side of him.
In excerpts also published in the Bild newspaper , the tennis star, who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison in April for hiding £2.5m worth of assets to avoid paying debts after being declared bankrupt, she added that the food in Wandsworth prison in London, where she spent her first few weeks, was bad and the portions too small. She noticed that there were few opportunities to spend her free time. There was a lot of violence though.
“You are nobody in prison. You are just a number. Mine was A2923EV. My name was not Boris, I was a number. And nobody cares who you are,” said the 55-year-old German.
The reporter who interviewed him described him as emaciated but surprisingly composed.
“I think I’ve rediscovered the person I was,” she told a reporter.
“I learned a hard lesson.” Very expensive. very painful. But all this taught me something very important and valuable. And some things happen for a reason, she added.
When asked about her excitement about finally leaving prison and going home last Thursday, Becker revealed.
“I’ve been sitting on the edge of my bed since six in the morning, hoping for the cell door to open. They came to get me at 7.30 in the morning, opened the door and asked, ‘Are you ready?’ I said, ‘Let’s go.’ !” I had already packed everything,” he added.
While at the second detention facility, Huntercombe, which is lightly guarded and reserved for foreign offenders prior to their deportation, Becker exercised regularly in the prison gym and worked as the prison’s assistant trainer helping other inmates. He has been active as a fitness consultant and psychologist, drawing on his experience as a former No. 1 tennis champion.
Becker was banned from visiting the UK for the next decade. He will serve the rest of his sentence in Germany .
The German tennis player in 1985 at the age of 17 became the youngest Wimbledon winner in singles. The nickname “Boom Boom” was given to him for the way he played the field. His dynamism, strength and youthful enthusiasm made him a favorite of the London crowd. During his career he won six Grand Slam tournaments, just missing Roland Garros. In total, he has won 49 tennis events. He also won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona (1992).
