Tennis has seen plenty of highs and lows for players, past and present. But Boris Becker has lived through more wild rides than most. The German legend won six Grand Slam titles and climbed to World No. 1 before finishing his career in 1999. Years later, his life took a sharp turn. In 2022, he served a prison sentence in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of financial offences. He has never shied away from speaking about that chapter. And now, he’s revealing another tidbit.

For the unversed, Becker was jailed for two and a half years in April 2022, but was released later that same year. Becker returned to Germany, but as a result of his conviction, wasn’t allowed to return to the United Kingdom until October 2024. The tennis icon was found to have hidden £2.5million worth of assets and loans to avoid paying debts. Becker has since released his new book ‘Inside: Winning. Losing. Starting Again’ detailing his experience, and at the launch, he told journalists: “My 1985 Wimbledon victory is partly to blame for this.”

It’s a subject he explores in further detail in the book, writing: “When you’re suddenly so famous at 17, it feels like you suddenly belong to someone else. The German press told me how I should live and what I should do.”

Boris Becker won his first Wimbledon title on July 7, 1985, at just 17 years, 7 months, and 15 days old, making him the youngest male champion in Wimbledon men’s singles history. Notably, Becker was the first unseeded player and the first German to claim this prestigious title. In the final, he defeated Kevin Curren in four sets: 6–3, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4.

After his win, Becker said, “It was my first Wimbledon win and I hope it will not be my last.” He described the Centre Court as “a mixture of the French Open and Wimbledon – clay in the middle and grass on the outside.” When told he had won £130,000 prize money, his reaction was simple and direct: “That is a lot.” He added with hope, “Perhaps my victory will change the position of tennis in Germany because we have never before had an idol in this sport.”

Despite this victorious moment, Boris Becker’s life later took a tough turn. As he noted to the press, “If I hadn’t won Wimbledon at 17, none of this would have happened. Then I wouldn’t have had this trust in older men to handle my business, nor the habit of letting others manage my finances.”

He faced legal troubles and was initially handed a 30-month jail sentence, though he was released after serving just eight months. Following this, he returned to Germany but was banned from entering the United Kingdom until 2025. These challenges created a difficult chapter in his life, overshadowing what was once a celebrated achievement.

Boris Becker admits that he never “fully recovered” from this setback

Back in 2022, when Becker got hit with a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for hiding assets after his bankruptcy hit the headlines. By April 29th, the once six-time Grand Slam champ was shipped off to a British jail to serve time. Used to the spotlight, Becker didn’t sugarcoat the harsh reality behind bars.

“I will never fully recover from that moment. Prisons are run by prisoners, not guards. I lost seven kilos in four weeks. Stress, no food, no sweets, no alcohol… It was very cold in the cell, a real nightmare. I slept in a tracksuit, two jackets, two pairs of socks, with a towel wrapped around my head,” he told Nordic Magazine earlier this week.

Things got dicey when BorisBecker, who took a gamble with fellow inmates, ended up owing €700 to some Romanian prisoners. The debt put a real target on his back with threats straight to his cell. Luckily, a friend bailed him out with a bank transfer that cleared the debt and probably saved his skin.

“Gambling was stupid and reckless of me,” he admitted. “Then they came to my cell and threatened to beat me if I didn’t pay. Without the help of a friend who paid the debt, I would be a different person today. This experience had a profound effect on me,” said the 57-year-old tennis legend.

Now out, Becker is back in the tennis mix, lending a hand to Danish No.1 Holger Rune between tournaments, proving his passion still runs deep. From glory on the grass courts to gritty life behind bars, his journey swings between incredible highs and humbling lows. Boris Becker’s story sparks plenty of debate about how life can throw curveballs even at sports legends. What’s your take on this? Share your thoughts below!