Boris Becker Reflects on Harrowing Prison Experience
Tennis icon Boris Becker recently detailed his experience serving time in British prisons, offering a stark look into his seven and a half months of incarceration beginning in 2022.
Initially held at Wandsworth prison in West London following his April 2022 sentencing for multiple insolvency offenses, Becker was later transferred to Huntercombe in Oxfordshire. In a recent interview with ”Blick,” the six-time Grand Slam champion described the experience as profoundly challenging.
“Prison – and I can only speak of English prisons – is an extremely dangerous place,” Becker stated. He emphasized the constant uncertainty and risk, noting instances of death through suicide, violence, and serious injury.”Ther is a number of unreported cases, you don’t want to know. All the time was a permanent struggle for survival.”
Despite his global fame, Becker found his celebrity held no weight within the prison walls. “They didn’t care that I was a tennis player. I was perceived as a tall, white German. I was not really recognized as a star,” the 57-year-old explained.Becker also revealed experiencing fear for his life during his imprisonment. He described a heightened state of alertness triggered by the threat of death, stating, “It means that people are notably reacting when they are concerned about death. Then they can jump three meters higher than usual. I experienced that twice.” Despite these moments, Becker maintained he is not inherently an anxious person, suggesting his life choices reflect a willingness to take risks. He characterized himself as “always a cross-border organizer.”
He described the prison environment as a “brutal world” governed by it’s own set of rules. “It is okay at night. Sometimes you hear screams and other things, but the doors are closed. When they are open again, everything can happen,” he saeid.
Looking back at the circumstances that led to his imprisonment, Becker pointed to a lack of adequate support during his early career. He stressed the importance of professional guidance,stating,”Your own family does not normally do it alone,you need professional help.” He contrasted his experience with that of Roger Federer, whom he believes benefited from a strong support system. ”Roger Federer was very lucky. His parents and wife were in the matter right from the start that he had a network and a double floor, so to speak. He knew that they were taking care of me.”
