Boris Becker says he is entering ‘last phase’ of life and hopes to ‘achieve something’ new

Retired tennis star Boris Becker has claimed he is reaching the ‘final stage’ of his life and is determined to ‘make a difference’ and ‘achieve something new’ as he approaches old age.

The three-time Wimbledon champion, who was deported to Germany in December after spending time in British prison for insolvency fraud, told the Brazilian outlet Veja that his time behind bars helped him become more humble and learn from his mistakes.

“I’ve had a very intense, sometimes overexposed journey, but I can look forward to at least another 25 years and I believe the experiences I’ve had, including life in prison, will teach me how to make the right choices.” can make. said the 55-year-old.

“I think I’ve become a more experienced and humble person after what I went through in prison… It made me reflect on the past and learn from my mistakes. That’s my challenge now.’

Becker gave the interview while promoting a documentary series about his life and scandals on Apple TV – one of several new ventures the disgraced six-time Grand Slam winner has embarked on while officially living with his 87-year-old mother Elvira in Leimen, Germany lived.

On the field was ‘Boom-Boom’ Becker completely sensational, but led a life outside the court of tumult and scandal, marked by divorces, money problems and broom closets.

In April 2022, he was given a two and a half year prison sentence for concealing millions in assets despite declaring himself bankrupt.

After his early release from prison in December, the disgraced tennis star is trying to rebuild his image and income. He teams up with Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, the girlfriend of a financial risk analyst, to manage his money through a new company, BFB Enterprises.

Almost immediately after returning to Germany, he conducted a lengthy interview with German media for a reported £450,000, and just weeks later commented at the Australian Open on a reported six-figure contract.

Then in February, Becker appeared on the red carpet of a Berlin film festival, where he was enthusiastically applauded and answered questions about the new documentary about his life – a project that is sure to earn him some extra cash.

When asked by Brazilian media what his next venture would be, Becker replied: “I don’t know yet, but I see the TV show as a good training… I’m glad to be back in my old [tennis] world and hear so many colleagues talking about me.’

Becker’s documentary appeared on Apple TV+ on April 8 features legends of tennis such as John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Novak Djokovic – who has worked with Becker as a coach – reflect on his legacy.

But it is Becker, in his own words, who provides by far the most insight, especially when reflecting on his more controversial moments in his life.

During his time in prison, Becker becomes tearful and suffocates as he admits, “I’ve hit rock bottom.” But that’s not the end yet, there’s another chapter to come.’

He also talks about his discovery about his love child after an affair with Russian model Angela Ermakova in 1999, which cost him his marriage to his then-wife, Barbara Feltus.

Becker explains, “She came in wearing a thick coat. She took off the coat and she was heavily pregnant. You just can’t believe it. The wake-up call came very late.’

The affair took place while his wife Barbara had gone to hospital because she was uncomfortable during her own pregnancy with her and Becker’s son Elias. The meeting happened in a broom cupboard in the London restaurant Nobu.

“She looked straight at me, the hunter’s look that said, ‘I want you,'” Becker recalled. “There she was again, passing the bar twice. And again this look. A moment later she left her table to go to the toilet. I followed after.

‘Five minutes in small talk and then straight to the nearest spot and get to work.

Then she left, I had another beer, paid and went back to my hotel. Because there was no news from the hospital I went to bed around 2 o’clock. In the morning I went to Barbara: the pain was a false alarm. We packed up and left England.

“I didn’t think about the consequences of last night.”

When Ermakova gave birth to a baby girl named Anna, Becker initially denied being the father before finally taking responsibility in 2001 when she was 10 months old.

Barbara left Becker soon after, but she appears in the documentary, explaining what life was like for her when she and Becker were together.

“Choosing a black woman as a wife was a big deal,” she says. “For the German press it was black and white.”

Becker became famous when we won Wimbledon at the age of 17. Reflecting on his meteoric rise, he says in the sneak preview: ‘Nobody told me I had to win Wimbledon when I was 17, I just did it. My game was power.’

McEnroe goes on to say that Becker “was like Michael Jordan in Germany.”

The Apple filmmakers had access to Becker for over three years – until he went to prison.

In the film, we see Becker solemnly accepting his beliefs and struggling with the missteps of his life – though he seems in no way humbled by them and unable – perhaps unwilling – to hide his arrogance.

Becker admitted he had “weaknesses and some dark moments,” but said he thought his tumultuous life lent itself to film.

“My life is like a movie,” he told reporters. “Coincidentally, it was real.”

But maybe that’s exactly why Becker continues to expand his catalog of scandals, bouncing back again and again with more cameras in his face and money in his pocket.

He is always, imperfectly and unashamedly, real.

Unlike many celebrities who publicly try to atone for their transgressions and only beg forgiveness because the sentiment rings hollow, Becker has no desire to make false apologies.

He is who he is, a charismatic, boundary-pushing risk-taker whose traits have landed him in trouble, but also catapulted him to the top of world sport and brought him a level of respect and admiration that he can trade for life .