Boris Becker’s estranged wife who split from the tennis star before rekindling their romance years later has said she took ‘every drug in Ibiza’ to get over him when he struck up a new romance.
Sharlely Kerssenberg, 47, said he made her feel “ugly, old and unwanted” when she found out the three-time Wimbledon champion was engaged to the daughter of his former adviser and manager Axel Meyer-Wölden in 2008.
Shortly after divorcing Dutch model Sharlely, who goes by Lilly, Becker quickly became engaged to his new Alessandra Meyer-Wölden – who was 16 years his junior.
The engagement fell through and Lilly took him back, with the couple marrying in 2009 and having a son together, Amadeus. They later broke up in 2018.
Becker has since been jailed in the UK for hiding his assets after he was declared bankrupt, with Lilly earlier this year criticizing him for neglecting his family and claiming his 30-month sentence had ‘ruined his reputation’.
Sharlely Kerssenberg, 47, said he made her feel ‘ugly, old and unwanted’ when she found out the three-time Wimbledon champion was engaged to a younger woman
Lilly took Becker back, and the couple married in 2009 (pictured at their wedding in St Mortiz, Switzerland)
Pictured: Lilly Becker shared a post on Instagram last week as she celebrated her 47th birthday
Her latest revelations about the couple’s tumultuous relationship will be made in the upcoming ITVX documentary, Boris Becker: The Rise & Fall, later this month.
The docuseries tells the inside story of how one of the biggest sports stars of all time, who was the youngest-ever winner of Wimbledon at age 17, ended up in Wandsworth Prison for hiding £2.6 million in assets and loans to avoid paying debts. .
Becker’s coaches, childhood friends and former lovers all speak out to reveal what he was behind the grand slam titles, awards and now jail time.
Among them, his second wife Lilly recalls the more difficult times in their relationship, discussing a phone call she received in London in 2008.
“I woke up, my phone rang,” she said. “I suddenly checked: this woman is younger, beautiful. That was devastating.
‘I said, ‘f*** it!’ I had to go to Ibiza. I have never felt so ugly, old and unwanted. The pain should go away.’
She said of her time on the party island: ‘I’ve tried every mushroom (hallucinogenic mushrooms), every alcohol, every drug in Ibiza. I couldn’t get drunk enough to forget this man.’
The couple later reunited and married. Now she looks back on her relationship with the German tennis player: “I was like, what’s going on with this guy? He’s cute, kind, funny, but he’s also arrogant, he’s a liar.
In a new ITVX documentary, Becker’s second wife Lilly recalls the more difficult times in their relationship
Becker and Lilly share a son, Amadeus. Lilly claimed earlier this year that Becker had stopped paying child support. Pictured together in 2015
“I was so in love with him. With his charisma, his passion, his humour. The things the public loves him for.”
German media have claimed that the six-time Grand Slam champion has instructed his lawyers to try to block the broadcast of parts of the ITVX and Paramount Plus series.
Lilly said, “Boris is a narcissist. A selfish person. It frightens him that he cannot influence the content of this documentary.
“He is used to controlling and manipulating others. But I will not be silenced, even if he sends his lawyers after me again.
Becker won three Wimbledon championships during his time as a player, including his first when he was just 17
“He wants to forbid me to talk about our son. He’s only seen Amadeus once this year – and immediately posted a photo to Instagram to show off what a great dad he is. That’s who he is.’
When asked why she chose to appear in the documentary, Lilly said, “It’s a perfect ending. A farewell to my life with Boris Becker. I’ve learned my lesson.
“After the documentary, I never want to talk about him in public again. I just want a divorce so I can finally enjoy my life. Enough is enough!’
Lilly is now waiting for a divorce from Becker and is now in a relationship again, telling the German tabloid BILD: “I have a very happy relationship on an equal footing with my partner Thorsten.”
Lilly said of her former partner, “After the documentary, I never want to talk about him in public again.” Pictured together in 2017
In an interview in February, after the former tennis star was released from prison in the UK and deported to Germany, Lilly opened up about the couple’s acrimonious divorce and berated Becker for mishandling his finances.
“When I started to emancipate myself in marriage, there were arguments. Also because of Boris’ lies about his finances,” she said.
“Boris can be charming and loving when he wants to be, but also extremely hurtful with words. A devil.
She also said: ‘Prison has not made Boris a better person. Boris lives in his world where everything revolves around Boris Becker.
“It’s not my fault he went to jail. He ruined his reputation all by himself.”
Lilly also claimed that Becker was not there for their son, who is now 13.