Tennis Legend's Prison Ordeal: Boris Becker Reveals £500 Poker Debt, Dramatic Weight Loss and Lifeline Wife
EXCLUSIVE: Tennis Legend Boris Becker Spills on Life Behind Bars
In a shocking tell-all, six-time tennis Grand Slam champion Boris Becker has revealed the harrowing truth about his eight months in prison. The German tennis icon, 57, was declared bankrupt in 2017 and later jailed for hiding assets and a loan from creditors.
Becker's meteoric rise to fame was no match for the harsh realities of life behind bars. As he struggled to cope with the monotony and confinement, his mental and physical health began to deteriorate alarmingly. The once-mighty tennis star has now spoken out about the trauma he endured in the UK prison system.
"It's a never-ending nightmare," Becker confessed to German media outlet Suddeutsche Zeitung. "The endlessness of it all eats away at your soul, boils your mind, and makes you question everything." He revealed that even the presence of his loving wife, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro – who is currently pregnant with their first child – couldn't shield him from the harsh realities of prison life.
For Becker, time stood still as he was locked away in Wandsworth and Huntercombe prisons. He recounted how a single phone call to his wife became his lifeline, allowing him to momentarily escape the bleak surroundings. "Talking to my wife on the phone was my only solace," he revealed. "It was the one thing that made me feel human again."
The tennis legend's physical health suffered significantly during his incarceration. Becker lost a staggering seven kilos in just four weeks due to the meager food rations and lack of amenities. He even resorted to wearing multiple layers of clothing, including socks and two jackets, just to stay warm on cold nights.
Becker's most disturbing revelation was that he had to "earn" the respect of fellow inmates by playing poker with hardened criminals. The former tennis pro claimed that his experience as a professional player made him think it was "just a little fun on the side." However, things took a dark turn when he found himself in debt to Romanian prisoners who came to his cell demanding payment.
"I was saved by someone outside," Becker revealed. "If not for their intervention, I'd be a different person today." The traumatic experience has left an indelible mark on Becker's life. Even after serving just eight months of his two-and-a-half-year sentence, he says the memories will stay with him forever.
The tennis icon continues to look over his shoulder, even in the comfort of his own home. "You'll never completely shake that time," he said somberly. "It's a part of you now." Becker's anxiety has become so severe that he can only fall asleep if the bedroom door is securely locked and he sleeps near the edge of the bed.
Becker's tennis career, which included being the youngest-ever winner of Wimbledon at 17, seemed to be a lifetime ago as he struggled to survive behind bars. Despite his icon status, he had to "earn trust" from fellow inmates just like everyone else. Becker even taught Stoic philosophy to his cellmates and worked out in the prison gym to maintain some semblance of normalcy.
The tennis legend's downfall began with bankruptcy in 2017 due to an unpaid loan of over £3 million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain. In a desperate attempt to conceal assets, Becker transferred €427,000 (£356,000) to various recipients, including his ex-wives Barbara and Sharlely 'Lilly' Becker.
Jurors found Becker guilty of four offenses under the Insolvency Act, acquitting him of 20 further counts at Southwark Crown Court. The tennis star's financial woes continued as he allegedly hid around £950,000 from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership in Germany and concealed his ownership of £1.8 million villa 'Im Schilling' in Leimen.
As Becker struggles to rebuild his life outside prison walls, one thing is clear: nothing will ever be the same again for this tennis legend. The memories of his time behind bars will haunt him forever, a constant reminder of the devastating price he paid for his mistakes.
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