Former world number one Boris Becker has given his first interview since his release from a British prison.
In the spring, the German was sentenced to two and a half years for hiding assets of hundreds of thousands of pounds after he was declared bankrupt.
In mid-December, the legendary tennis player was deported to Germany, as his candidacy was approved as part of a program to reduce the burden on the English colonies.
For several weeks, the former athlete was hiding from journalists with his friends, but then he decided to still talk to the Sat TV channel.
True, it's not free.
For his story about life behind barbed wire, according to the Daily Mail, he received nearly $530,000.
During the interview, Becker explained how the months in prison have affected his attitude towards life.
For the first time, he felt what it meant to be a nobody.
The former tennis player took a black sweatshirt and baseball cap to prison: he wanted to look cool and create a gangster image, but the guards did not appreciate this idea and handed him gray clothes, which were also small for him.
“In prison, you are nobody – just a number.
Mine was A2923EV.
They didn't call me Boris.
Nobody cares about who you really are, ”said the tennis player.
According to Becker, being in the colony had a positive effect on his health, since he did not have the opportunity to drink alcohol.
In addition, the former athlete lost seven kilograms.
Moreover, according to Becker, there have been not only external changes, but also internal ones.
He started going to church.
And thanks to the long evenings in the cell, when he had to be alone with himself, the German was able to rethink a lot.
In addition, Boris began to actively read: upon his release, he had to return about 50 books to the prison library, and a course on stoic philosophy became a kind of Bible.
However, there were terrible moments during these months.
So, Becker said that they tried to kill him twice.
“I thought that I wouldn’t get out of Wandsworth prison alive - some prisoner (as it turned out later, a murderer) wanted to take my jacket and money from me and threatened to kill me if I didn’t give them to him.
Then in Huntercombe, another criminal said he wanted to kill me.
He told me what he would do to me if I didn't let him wash my clothes.
It was quite recently, in October, and when he said all this, my hands were shaking.
But in the end, the next day, he fell on his knees in front of me, apologized, kissed my hand and assured me that he respected me, ”said the tennis player.
In a difficult situation, Becker was supported by the children and civil wife Lillian.
As it turned out, the tennis player was convicted on the birthday of his beloved.
“I took the opportunity to buy white roses for her, but it was a sad day for us.
Something more unimaginable and could not be.
At about two o'clock in the afternoon a lawyer came to me and told me to get ready, as it was time for a verdict.
Lillian and Noah accompanied me.
We hugged each other for a long time, because I knew that after the verdict was passed, I would no longer be able to say goodbye to them.
From the courtroom you are immediately taken to the basement, the entrance to which is behind a glass screen.
It doesn't get any harsher," Becker said.
Moreover, the tennis player did not expect that he would be able to get out of prison so quickly, so he even advised Lillian not to wait for his return.
However, she rejected his proposal, which touched him even more.
“She looked at me with the words: “Boris, we stand for each other, and you are my partner.”
She looked at me, hugged me and said: “Don’t talk nonsense,” the German shared.
Do not leave Becker and friends.
The head coach of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, wanted to visit the tennis player, but he was not allowed into prison, fearing for the reputation of a specialist.
“We are good friends, and I gave the prison management his name on the list of people whom I asked to be allowed to visit, but then they told me that he could not do this due to his fame.
The prison staff was worried about his safety,” the ex-athlete explained.
But most of all, Becker was shocked by a letter of support from Michael Stich, with whom they won Olympic gold in doubles in 1992.
In the German national team, they were partners, but they always competed, and because of this, the relationship between tennis players remained strained even after the end of their sports career.
According to Boris, the message from the "sworn friend" had a very strong emotional impact and gave strength.
The release was swift and unexpected.
He packed his things in a day and went to Stuttgart.
Moreover, a friend of Becker paid for the flight from the UK, since he himself did not have the required amount.
And the first thing the German tried in freedom was a mug of beer visiting friends who sheltered him in Germany.
Looking back, the tennis player considers his main mistake to be gullible and too easy on money, which played a cruel joke on him.
“Until 2017, I was able to pay my bills, and then a dispute arose with a private bank, it was about an amount of € 3.5 million, the bank won the case in court, I was declared bankrupt, and time seemed to stop,” Becker recalled.
It should be noted that the athlete still does not admit his guilt in the crimes against him.
However, after months in prison, he plans to change his life for the better.
“I trusted the wrong people and eventually got lazy.
Prison forced me to pull myself together, gave me a second chance.
Now it depends only on me whether to move further along this path, which is why I believe that the conclusion has benefited me, ”Becker admitted.
He connects his future with Lillian and the children, whom Boris hopes will be even more.
At the same time, he does not want to stay in Europe, but plans to move to Miami or Dubai.