LONDON – Boris Becker, the tennis legend who burst onto the scene with a stunning Wimbledon victory at age 17, now says the ease with wich success came to him ultimately contributed to his downfall, leading to a prison sentence and deportation from the UK.
Speaking publicly after the release of his new book detailing his time in prison,Becker,57,reflected on a life where “everything was possible” and “nobody told me ‘no’,” a situation he now recognizes as “the recipe for disaster.” His comments come as he attempts to rebuild his life following his conviction for concealing assets during bankruptcy proceedings.
Becker retired from professional tennis in 1999 and later worked as a television pundit before coaching Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016, during which time the Serbian star secured six of his 24 Grand Slam titles.
Despite his recent hardships, Becker found inspiration in Djokovic’s 2022 Wimbledon triumph. “I was supporting Djokovic at the time I saw him on the TV, when he was winning matches and ultimately winning the title against Nick Kyrgios,” he said. “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 was deported from the UK after serving his sentence. He emphasizes the importance of taking accountability, stating, “You take accountability for your actions, which is very critically important as you cannot look back any more. You cannot change the past.You can only change the future as you live in today.”
