The first interview of the former tennis star Boris Becker after his release from prison in Great Britain is expected with great excitement tonight (8.15 p.m.). Presenter Steven Gätjen conducts an exclusive interview with the 55-year-old for the private broadcaster Sat.1.
Becker was sentenced to prison by a London court at the end of April for failing to properly declare parts of his assets in his bankruptcy proceedings. He was then released on Thursday.
Gätjen, who has already met him in preparation, said: “When I visited him in prison, a very slim Boris Becker greeted me with a smile on his face.” His personal impression: Becker “really took it with him” from prison.
As Gätjen described in a broadcaster’s message on Monday, what he remembered most was Becker’s description of the first days in Wandsworth prison. “There are not only people there who have committed financial crimes, 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,” says Gätjen .
Becker in April: “I’ve reached my low point”
Shortly before his arrest in April, Becker was emotional in an interview with the Apple TV streaming service. “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.
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.
As a reporter, he had the feeling “that someone was sitting in front of me who was striving for a fresh start,” Gätjen said of his visit to prison. The public will soon be able to form their own opinion.
