“I heard the screaming and didn’t know what it was,” Boris Becker recalls, remembering how he stared into the darkness at Wandsworth prison, just over two miles from Wimbledon’s Centre Court where he won his first of three men’s singles titles at age 17 in 1985. “Were people trying to kill or harm themselves? Could they not handle their loneliness? Or were they just making wild noises because they’d lost their minds?”
Becker had been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. During his bankruptcy proceedings, he was convicted of hiding assets to avoid paying more money to his creditors. The judge noted that Becker had used his funds instead to support his children and other dependents, cover medical and professional costs, and pay for other expenses.
He was taken from court to prison on Friday, April 29, 2022, the start of a holiday weekend, which meant he was locked in a cell as chaos erupted around him. “From that Friday night until Tuesday morning, when I was finally allowed to speak to the Listeners [trusted prisoners who help new inmates], were the three toughest nights of my life.
“You can’t sleep because it’s all true. In prison, people do take their own lives, harm themselves, and go insane. It’s the harsh reality when you’ve never been to jail—something your lawyers might not tell you beforehand, perhaps to avoid scaring you. HMP Wandsworth is likely one of the UK’s toughest prisons, so being sent there was quite a shock.”
On a Wednesday morning in Milan, after his early release and deportation to Germany in December 2022, Becker is refreshingly open and direct. His compelling new book offers a often distressing yet touching look into his prison experience and how he found peace after the turmoil of his life up to his mid-50s.
Becker was a prodigy who burst onto the tennis scene as a powerful teenager and went on to win six Grand Slam titles. But fame overwhelmed him, and he made many mistakes. He surrounded himself with people who constantly praised him and followed their flattering advice. In the end, he paid a heavy price for his overconfidence.
His book, skillfully written by Tom Fordyce, makes you feel as if you’re in prison with him. The initial days and nights were terrifying, and Becker remembers thinking, “This is torture. Surviving is impossible. I’m trapped in a cage with psychopaths. I’m alone and lost.”
He points out that “it’s easier said than done, but you have to find a way. Time is your enemy inside because it moves so slowly. You’re in a tiny cell for 22 hours a day, and that’s hard.”
Becker adds that, “looking back, it was probably good for me to be still for a long time, and 231 days is quite a while. To really understand what had happened to me before, to piece together the story, was a relief. But it doesn’t happen overnight.
“You have to take real responsibility, and life in a cell gives you that chance. I like to think I’m fairly intelligent, and eventually, you start thinking about the whys, ifs, and whens of everything that occurred. Three years later, I’m doing well because I took full accountability for both the good and bad I did.”
The 57-year-old leans forward to emphasize his next point. “But anyone who says prison is easy is lying. It’s a real punishment.”
Becker makes it clear that much of life inside Wandsworth and HMP Huntercombe in Oxfordshire, where he served most of his sentence, was effectively run by the inmates. The prison system appears broken, and true rehabilitation must come from within each prisoner’s own desire to change.
“That’s a very imp…”That’s an important point you raise,” Becker says. “That’s why there are so many repeat offenders, committing crime after crime, and ending up in prison for the second, third, or fourth time. You have to take a good look at yourself, be disciplined in your thoughts, and find a positive conclusion. Then rehabilitation is possible—but it all starts with you.”
Becker notes that some aspects of prison can be positive and emphasizes that his own rehabilitation was helped by a kind warder, Andy Small, who encouraged him to take a course in stoicism. “It helped me, and eventually, I became a stoic teacher myself, talking to inmates and trying to rehabilitate some of them in the hope that they would stay on the right path after their release. Andy was a tough guy who ran the gym, but he showed me how to share my life story with young prisoners—about having everything and losing everything—without being too down about it.
‘You have to take real accountability, and life in a cell gives you that opportunity. Eventually, you start thinking about the whys, ifs, and whens of everything that happened.’ Boris Becker believes rehabilitation begins with the offender.
“That was huge for me. Andy put his faith in me, and I think I delivered. It’s the same now. I read a lot of books and recommend the philosophy of stoicism to people facing challenges in the free world. It’s more important than ever in these trying times.”
Becker smiles and adds, “I was a stoic without knowing it when I was playing tennis. I lived in the moment and never really struggled with pressure on the court. I always felt comfortable in my own skin when playing. I used some stoic methods as a tennis player; I just didn’t realize it at the time.”
He recalls some beautiful moments in prison. Having coached Novak Djokovic to six Grand Slam final victories, Becker was engrossed while watching Wimbledon on a small TV in his cell in the summer of 2022. As Djokovic advanced match after match to the final against Nick Kyrgios, it felt as if his entire wing of the prison had become immersed in tennis.
That Sunday afternoon, the final was noisy, with prisoners banging on their cell doors every time Djokovic won a big point. Becker remembers that after a thrilling four-set final, “I wasn’t afraid anymore. And when Novak won and raised his arms, I stood up and raised mine too. As I did, the noise along the wing erupted again, louder than ever. The banging didn’t stop for ten minutes—on walls, on doors, with cups, with chairs. It had taken me two weeks to teach them that this was my man, and then I realized: they had understood. I stood there and cried.”
His emotions were heightened because Djokovic had arranged tickets for Becker’s partner (now wife), Lilian, and his eldest son, Noah, who were in his box for every match. “I saw them ringside at every game,” Becker says, “and that’s what I call true friendship—not being forgotten. I always thank Novak for this special memory.”
Boris Becker coached Novak Djokovic to six Grand Slam final wins during the three years they worked together.If Becker were still coaching Djokovic today, would they discuss the 38-year-old’s eventual retirement? “Look, I think he’s important for tennis today. He leads by example and shows young players the level of dedication required to reach the top and stay there. He’s still chasing his 25th Grand Slam, reached all four major semi-finals this year, and won two tournaments. Who are we to tell Novak when to stop? I heard he wants to play at the 2028 Olympics in LA. Let him. We need him.”
Will Djokovic win his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam? “Anyone who bet against Novak Djokovic over the last 20 years lost a lot of money. So I’d never bet against him.”
Becker praises the brilliance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz and is amazed by their classy friendship and mutual respect, especially when recalling his own fierce rivalries with Michael Stich, Andre Agassi, and Pat Cash. “Well, it’s a little bizarre,” he says of the Sinner-Alcaraz bromance, “but they’re role models, and it’s wonderful they have this chemistry on and off the court. Our generation was different. We didn’t have social media. We had different qualities. But in this challenging world, I really appreciate Jannik and Carlos’s behavior. I talk to them because they’re open to conversations with us former champions.”
Touchingly, Becker has fully reconciled with his old rivals. Stich wrote him a moving letter while he was in prison, and Cash, a fellow stoic, visited him to discuss stoicism. He’s now friends with Agassi, whom he calls “a brother from another mother.”
When Becker turned 55 on November 22, 2022, he was locked up in Huntercombe. Each cell had a kettle, but he had never made himself a cup of coffee before jail, let alone boiled water in his pampered life. Before incarceration, he simply used a capsule in his coffee machine. So he had to learn a very basic life skill inside.
But he was stunned when three inmates somehow obtained ingredients to bake him three cakes in their kettles for his birthday. “I still don’t know how they did it, but they gave me a lemon cake, a chocolate cake, and a carrot cake. It was very difficult to cook decent food for yourself in a kettle, let alone bake a cake, but they did it. Normally, you hope a loved one might give you a cake or a restaurant would bring one with candles. But having three small cakes baked by other inmates made it one of the most emotional birthdays I’ve ever had.”
How did they taste? “They tasted great, and we all ate them.”
He and Lilian now live in Milan, where he works hard, mostly covering tennis and football on Italian television. He is finally free of all debts and delusions and, having experienced so much glory and infamy, Becker is philosophical: “One of the features of stoicism is that you can’t predict the future. I’m trying hard to have a good life with my wife and my other family. Italy is a wonderful country, and life’s good at the moment.”
His weathered face lights up when confirming that Lilian will soon give birth. “You fall in love with a woman at the most difficult time in your life, which for me was in the spring of 2018 when my second marriage failed, I was insolvent, and really struggling. But Lilian sticks with me through thick and thin, even though she doesn’t have to. She’s independent, smart, and educated. Quite frankly, without her, I wouldn’t be sitting like this now.”
Becker pauses and shakes his head in wonder. “Now, to have our first child together in a couple of weeks is like a Hollywood movie. I pinch myself sometimes that this happened to me. So I really understand this is…””I’m trying to make the most of a proper second chance.”
Inside by Boris Becker is published by HarperCollins.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Boris Beckers statement on prison life designed with clear natural questions and direct answers
General Definition Questions
Q1 Who is Boris Becker
A He is a famous German former tennis champion who won multiple Grand Slam titles including Wimbledon as a teenager
Q2 What is he referring to when he talks about prison
A He is referring to his own experience He was sentenced to two and a half years in a UK prison in 2022 for illegally transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt
Q3 What did Boris Becker mean by his statement Anyone who claims prison life is easy is lyingits a true punishment
A He meant that prison is intentionally difficult and harsh He is directly contradicting anyone who might downplay its challenges stating that its purpose as a punishment is very real and effective
Experience Daily Life Questions
Q4 Why was his time in prison considered such a punishment
A He lost his freedom privacy and autonomy He had to follow a strict routine was separated from loved ones and was in a constant state of high alert for his safety
Q5 Did he talk about what a typical day was like for him in prison
A Yes he described a highly regimented day with specific times for waking up eating and limited recreation He worked a job like packing boxes for very little pay
Q6 What was the hardest part for him according to his interviews
A The psychological impact was the hardest He spoke about the fear the loneliness the loss of identity and the struggle to stay mentally strong in a threatening environment
Broader Implications Advanced Questions
Q7 How did his fame affect his prison experience
A While it may have offered some initial protection he has said it also made him a target for extortion and bullying from other inmates who wanted to exploit a celebrity
Q8 What has he said about the purpose of prison after his experience
A He has emphasized that prison successfully serves its role as a punishment and a deterrent His statement reinforces the idea that it is not a soft or easy experience which is the point
