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‘A Terrible Example of a Sportsman’ – Legendary Boris Becker Re-Lives Heart-Breaking Tennis Moment That Humbled His Arrogant Personality

Published 04/11/2023, 3:13 PM EDT

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via Reuters

Boris Becker, the former world no. 1 tennis player, had a long and illustrious career on the court. His personal life was riddled with controversies and scandals, leading to his eventual incarceration in 2022. The new documentary, Boom! Boom! The World Vs Boris Becker sheds light on his tumultuous personal life. In the documentary, the German reflects on his exemplary career. He shared details about a heart-breaking moment that humbled his arrogant personality.


One of the most dramatic moments in Becker’s career was the 1991 Wimbledon final. The German had won the tournament twice before and was the world number one at the time. He was known for his aggressive playing style and brash personality on and off the court.

Boris Becker shares his voice on his heartbreaking moment on the court in the latest Apple TV documentary

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Becker recalls that he made a bold statement to himself before the match. The German told himself that if he won, he would retire on the spot. However, with the match now tied at two sets each, he found himself struggling to keep his promise. In the third set, Becker’s frustration and desperation grew. He played sloppily, made numerous errors, and lost the final set 6-4. Becker’s loss in the 1991 Wimbledon final to Michael Stich was a humbling moment for the German tennis star. In the documentary, he admits that he had never behaved as embarrassingly as he did in that match. He was disappointed with his performance, but more so with his arrogant attitude. He had always seen himself as invincible, but this loss shattered that illusion.

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He shared, “I’m back to number one, I’m about to win my-my fourth Wimbledon. Saturday night, I’m supposed to concentrate, but I started crying. I said, “I know myself.” If I beat Michael Stich, I will retire. I’ve proven a point. I’m one of the best players of all time. End of story. It’s good. If I win, I will retire on the spot.

Becker’s defeat made him realize that he needed to work on his attitude, both on and off the court. Becker also explained, “I was scared of that moment. And it was my instincts just being so uncomfortable in the situation… I’ve never behaved so embarrassingly as I did in that Wimbledon final, in front of 800 million people or a billion people. I was the number one player in the world. And I was just-just-just a terrible example of a sportsman.”

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From that point on, he began to approach his tennis career and his personal life with more humility and maturity. In the years that followed, he became more focused and dedicated to his game.

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Becker revealed details about his addiction in the docu-series

In the docuseries, Becker discussed his involvement in multiple controversies. One shocking revelation was his admission to being addicted to sleeping pills, back in 1987. He revealed that the addiction hurt his performance, causing him to lose his chance of winning his fourth Wimbledon title. The German claimed that he stopped taking the pills after failing to make it to the finals.

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Becker also acknowledged that the pills were highly addictive and made him feel sluggish and exhausted. He attributed his initial use of the pills to anxiety and stress, which he was experiencing during a difficult time. However, he later realized that they were doing more harm than good, as they prevented him from practicing and performing at his best. Becker eventually decided to quit the pills after throwing his last package out of the window following the Wimbledon finals in 1988.

In hindsight, the sleeping pills may have hindered Becker’s potential on the ATP Tour. What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

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Written by:

Dr Aditya Raveendran Menon

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Aditya Menon is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports, covering several high-profile tournaments and events. With a passion for writing that matches his love for the sport, he has a special interest in covering the activities of tennis legends like Serena Williams and the ‘Big Three’ of men’s tennis. Aditya’s interest in tennis started at a young age when his father introduced him to the sport.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas