Boris Becker is convinced that his time in prison has changed him.

"I think I've rediscovered the person I used to be," said the tennis star in an exclusive interview with Sat.1, which was to be broadcast on Tuesday evening (8:15 p.m.).

The broadcaster distributed the first quotes in advance.

“I learned a hard lesson.

A very expensive one.

A very painful one.

But the whole thing taught me something important and good.

And some things happen for a good reason.”

The experiences behind bars have left their mark on the former world star.

The first photos show Becker now much slimmer, he has slightly darker hair.

His time in prison has wrinkled his face with worry.

The athlete said of his time in prison: “You are nobody in prison.

you are just a number

Mine was A2923EV.

I wasn't called Boris.

I was a number

And they don't give a fuck who you are.” At the end of April, a court in London sentenced Becker to prison for failing to properly declare parts of his assets in his bankruptcy proceedings.

He was finally released on Thursday.

"I sat on the edge of my bed from six o'clock and hoped that the cell door would open"

The tennis player said of the last hours before his release and deportation to Germany: “I sat on the edge of my bed from six in the morning and hoped that the cell door would open.

They came at half past seven, unlocked themselves and asked: Are you ready?

I said let's go!

I had already packed everything.”

Moderator Steven Gätjen, who has already met Becker in preparation, said about him: "I think he's really willing to clean up and clarify a lot of things." As Gätjen described, Becker's description of the first days in Wandsworth prison is particularly important to him personally remembered.

"It's not just people who have committed financial crimes who are incarcerated there, but also sex offenders, murderers and people who have committed major robberies.

Boris Becker told me that he was very afraid of ending up in a collective cell.”

Shortly before his arrest in April, Becker was emotional in an interview with Apple TV +.

"I've hit my rock bottom.

I'll see what I do with it," he said tearfully at the time.

A few days later he went to prison.

Becker's misery in London began when he was declared bankrupt by a court in 2017.

In fact, such procedures can be ended quite quickly in Great Britain.

But with Becker it took a long time.

Humiliating episodes followed: Among other things, some of his trophies and other personal memorabilia were publicly auctioned off.

Becker had pleaded not guilty

But it got even worse: his insolvency administrator accused Becker of concealing assets worth millions.

The tennis legend had to go to court.

In the spring trial, Becker pleaded innocent on all counts.

His attorney portrayed him as a man who was often overwhelmed with life as a star off the tennis court, often left decisions to others and little concerned with the consequences of his own actions.

But the jury only partially believed him and found Becker guilty on several counts.