Boris Becker is best remembered as the 17-year-old who stunned the world by winning Wimbledon in 1985, the youngest man ever to do so.
Over the years, he went on to lift six Grand Slam trophies and 64 titles in total, securing his place in tennis history.
But while his career remains legendary, life after tennis threw him into battles that no trophy could help him win.
The former champion eventually found himself in a UK prison, serving time for bankruptcy offences.
Now, nearly three years after his release, Becker has spoken openly about the harrowing experience and how it continues to haunt him.
Prison Life That Tested His Sanity
In April 2022, Becker, who had once been worth £38 million, was jailed for hiding assets and failing to declare property during his bankruptcy case.
He spent eight months locked up in Wandsworth and Huntercombe prisons before being released and deported from the UK.
Reflecting on that time, the 57-year-old revealed to Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung just how much prison affected his body and mind.
“This endlessness eats away at your soul and boils your mind,” he said, describing how the daily grind stripped him of any sense of control.
Cold Nights and Emotional Strain
The conditions were brutal.
Becker recalled shivering through nights in his cell, sometimes sleeping in two jackets, two pairs of socks, and even with a towel wrapped around his head just to keep warm.
He lost seven kilos in the first month, not only because of the meagre food but also the emotional toll.
His only comfort was speaking to his wife, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, who was pregnant with their first child at the time.
“Talking to my wife on the phone was my lifeline,” Becker admitted, saying those calls were the only moments he felt like himself.
Fame Meant Nothing Behind Bars
Becker quickly learned that his status as a global icon meant absolutely nothing in prison.
Respect had to be earned just like anyone else. To find his place, he became a teacher of Stoic philosophy and took on duties in the prison gym, slowly gaining the trust of guards and inmates.
Even so, he described the atmosphere as one where “prisoners controlled the prison,” making survival a delicate balance.
A Risky Escape Through Poker
To pass the endless hours, Becker turned to poker, a game he had dabbled in professionally after tennis.
But behind bars, this proved to be a mistake. Playing with hardened criminals, he ended up owing £500 after a marathon game with Romanian inmates.
“They came to my cell and tried to slap me when I couldn’t pay,” he confessed.
Only a friend outside, who sent money to cover the debt, saved him from what could have been a violent outcome.
Looking back, Becker calls it “foolish” and a decision that could have ended much worse.
Scars That Still Linger
Even though he only served eight months, Becker says prison changed him permanently.
To this day, he struggles with the lingering effects.
“I can only sleep if the bedroom door is completely closed,” he revealed.
“Even the biggest bed feels like a narrow prison cot.” These habits, he says, are signs that part of him is still trapped behind those walls.
How It All Came Crashing Down
Becker’s downfall began in 2017, when he was declared bankrupt over an unpaid £3 million loan tied to his estate in Mallorca.
In the years that followed, he was accused of hiding assets worth millions, including property in Germany, bank loans, and shares in a tech company.
Despite his financial woes, jurors heard that Becker continued spending heavily at Harrods, on groceries from Ocado, and on Ralph Lauren clothing.
In the end, he was convicted of four offences under the Insolvency Act, including moving money to ex-wives Barbara and Sharlely “Lilly” Becker, concealing a villa in Leimen, and hiding a major loan.
He was cleared of other charges, including failing to hand over his historic tennis trophies.
A Life Forever Marked
Boris Becker has lived a life of extraordinary highs and crushing lows—going from Wimbledon glory to prison cells.
Now, at 57, with another child on the way, he says he will never escape the shadow of his time behind bars.
“You’ll never completely shake that time,” he admitted.
“You take prison with you into your new life.”