Former tennis star Boris Becker has expressed a surprisingly positive outlook on his time in prison, stating it provided a crucial period of self-reflection In an interview with the German magazine “Der Spiegel”, Becker indicated the experience may have been life-saving, allowing him to confront issues that had led to difficulties in his personal life
Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a London court in April 2022, ultimately serving eight months He described a period of escalating financial pressures preceding his incarceration, explaining he felt compelled to pursue funds through various means He acknowledged the strain this placed on his family “I ran around like crazy trying to get money somehow” he stated, adding that his then-wife and older children were aware of his struggles, which inevitably impacted their relationships
The six-time Grand Slam champion also reflected on a perceived complacency following his retirement from professional tennis He admitted to falling into patterns of excessive socializing and alcohol consumption “I spent the evenings drinking nicely I stood around at parties where I didn’t want to be” Becker explained, suggesting a lack of purpose contributed to his downfall