Once again Boris Becker (55) gave a detailed interview about his time in prison. He spoke on German TV at the end of last year and thus shortly after his surprising dismissal, he now described to the British “The Telegraph” how he has fared in freedom since then. He now feels “restored” from his time in prison and once again asserted that the experience had made him a different person.
“I think I’ve grown up a bit, washed with all waters, and hopefully I’ve gotten a little smarter, which is reflected in the decisions I make professionally and privately. I’m looking forward to a rosy future,” Becker is sure .
A contrast program compared to the same time last year and even more so after the start of his imprisonment. Despite the guards – first in Wandsworth and later in Huntercombe prison – he couldn’t feel safe, says Becker: “You think you’re safe because you’re in prison, right? But prison life is very dangerous .” The ex-tennis player had already reported in the Sat.1 interview that he had received death threats from a fellow inmate. Consequently, the time behind bars is also because of such experiences “a real punishment. Whoever claims that the time in prison is easy is a liar”.
The lack of stimulation and the infinitely slow passage of time in the cell inevitably forced him to deal with “his own demons, especially in the first few weeks”: “So you have to discipline yourself, your mind and your time. If you don’t it becomes a very lonely place.”
The almost eight months in prison have shown him once again how happy he must be to still be alive – and not just since imprisonment: “People like me, who have been through so much on a global level, will not over 50. To still be here at 55 and to be able to tell my truth with the help of some friends is very important.” Becker is referring to the two-part documentary “Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker”, which will start on Apple TV on April 7th.
As a conclusion to the time in prison, but also to his now 55 years on earth, Becker sums up to “The Telegraph”: “My greatest achievement, I think, after all the processes, the grief and the hardships, is still alive and to be well. I’m not a drug addict, I’m not an alcoholic and I haven’t gone insane yet.”
