LONDON – former tennis champion Boris becker has revealed a surprising regret: that he won Wimbledon at the remarkably young age of 17. Speaking publicly for the first time about the long-term psychological impact of such early success, becker, 57, suggested the experience fostered a sense of invincibility that ultimately contributed to later life mistakes.
The revelation comes as Becker reflects on his recent imprisonment in the UK and deportation, and in connection with the release of his new book detailing his experiences. While acknowledging the immense pride in his 1985 Wimbledon victory, Becker now believes it created a pattern of unchecked privilege and a lack of accountability. ”I was too agreeable. I had too much money. Nobody told me ’no’ – everything was possible. In hindsight, that’s the recipe for disaster,” he stated.
Becker, who retired from professional tennis in 1999 and subsequently worked as a television pundit, previously coached Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016, contributing to the Serbian’s accumulation of six Grand Slam titles – Djokovic now has 24 overall. He found solace in watching Djokovic’s 2022 Wimbledon triumph against Nick Kyrgios, stating, “I was supporting djokovic at the time I saw him on the TV, when he was winning matches and ultimately winning the title…That was very inspirational for me and in the end very emotional for me. My brother novak is there and I’m in one of the worst prisons in the world.So it puts life into perspective.”
Becker’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the pressures faced by young athletes and the potential pitfalls of early fame. He emphasized the importance of taking accountability for one’s actions, adding, “You cannot look back any more. You cannot change the past. You can only change the future as you live in today.”
