“They don’t care who you are” – Boris Becker on time in prison “The scariest moderation ever”? Sascha Ruefer splits Switzerland

Boris Becker is convinced that his time in prison has changed him. “I think I’ve rediscovered the person I used to be,” the tennis star said in an exclusive interview with Sat.1, to be broadcast Tuesday evening (8:15 p.m.).

The broadcaster already distributed the first quotes. “I learned a hard lesson. A very expensive one. A very painful one. But the whole thing taught me something important and good. And some things happen for a good reason.”

The experiences behind bars have left their mark on the former world star. In the first photos, Becker can now be seen much slimmer. He has slightly darker hair. His time in prison has made his face wrinkled with worry.

The athlete said of his time in prison: “You are nobody in prison. you are just a number Mine was A2923EV. My name was not Boris. I was a number and they don’t give a fuck who you are.” At the end of April, Becker was sentenced to prison by a London court for failing to properly disclose parts of his assets in his bankruptcy proceedings. He was finally released on Thursday.

Speaking of the last hours before his release and deportation to Germany, the tennis player said: “I sat on the edge of my bed from six in the morning hoping the cell door would open. They came at half past six, untied themselves and asked : Are you ready? I said, “Let’s go!” I already packed everything.”

Moderator Steven Gätjen, who has already met Becker in preparation, said of him: “I think he is really willing to clean up and clarify a lot of things.” As Gätjen has described, it was Becker’s description of the early days in Wandsworth Prison that stuck in his mind. “There are not only people who have committed financial crimes, but also sex offenders, murderers and people who have committed major robberies. Boris Becker told me that he was very afraid of ending up in a collection cell.”

Shortly before his arrest in April, Becker was emotional in an interview with Apple TV+. “I’ve reached my lowest point. I’ll see what I do with it,” he said in tears. A few days later he went to jail.

Becker’s woes in London began when he was declared bankrupt by a court in 2017. In fact, such proceedings can be ended quite quickly in Britain. But with Becker it took a long time. Humiliating episodes followed: among other things, some of his trophies and other personal memorabilia were publicly auctioned.

But things got worse: his trustee accused Becker of hiding assets worth millions. The tennis legend had to go to court. In the spring trial, Becker pleaded not guilty on all counts. His lawyer portrayed him as a man who was often overwhelmed by life as a star off the tennis court, often left decisions to others and cared little about the consequences of his own actions. But the jury only partially believed him and found Becker guilty on several counts. (nih/sda/dpa)