Former Tennis Champion Boris Becker Watched Novak Djokovic’s wimbledon Victory From Prison
LONDON – While Novak Djokovic celebrated his seventh Wimbledon title in July, his former coach, Boris Becker, experienced the triumph from a markedly different setting: a U.S. prison cell. Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion himself, was serving a sentence for bankruptcy offenses but closely followed Djokovic’s journey to victory against Nick Kyrgios.
The contrast underscores a poignant moment for both athletes,highlighting the complexities of life beyond the court. Becker’s imprisonment and subsequent support of Djokovic offer a unique outlook on resilience and the enduring power of mentorship, even under extraordinary circumstances. He is now writing a book detailing his eight-month incarceration.
Speaking to the BBC, Becker revealed he actively supported Djokovic during the tournament. “I supported him at the time, I saw him on television when he won his matches and finally the title against Nick Kyrgios,” he said.Becker,55,also reflected on his own early Wimbledon win at age 17,stating he was “still only a child” at the time.
Becker described the experience of watching Djokovic’s success as “very inspiring and, very moving,” particularly given his own situation. “My brother Novak was there and I was in one of the worst prisons in the world. It puts life back into perspective,” he explained.
The German tennis legend previously detailed the harsh realities of prison life,noting the limited diet: “Little food,no alcohol,no sugar… but a lot of stress.” Becker was sentenced to two and a half years but served eight months. He was released in December 2022 and deported back to Germany.
