"I never thought at 17, I'd be incarcerated at 54": Becker admits prison humbled him and shows status means nothing

Boris Becker spoke about his time in prison and how unexpected his experience was.

In 2022, Boris Becker pleaded guilty to illegally transferring large sums of money, hiding assets and loans outside the law, and declaring bankruptcy with debts of over $3 million. The German was sentenced to two and a half years in prison but reached a deal that allowed him to be released after 8 months.

Regarding his time in prison, the 6-time Grand Slam champion confessed how his imprisonment was:

"I never thought at 17 I'd be incarcerated at 54. If anything it certainly humbled me, it certainly made me realise that whether you're called Boris Becker or Paul Smith, if you break the law, you get convicted and you get incarcerated, that goes for everybody," Becker said.

He also reflected on having experienced moments of glory in tennis and then being imprisoned years later.

"I never expected the good and I certainly didn't expect the bad but I'm a survivor, I'm a tough cookie, I've taken the penalties, I've taken the incarceration," the German said.

"But I've also taken the glory and if anything this made me a stronger, better man," he added.

"With my decisions in the future you can see whether I have learned from.”

The former world No.1 commented that he was surrounded by dangerous people and that life in prison is a daily struggle for survival.

"Whoever says that prison life isn't hard and isn't difficult I think is lying. I was surrounded by murderers, by drug dealers, by rapists, by people smugglers, by dangerous criminals," Becker said.

"You fight every day for survival. Quickly you have to surround yourself with the tough boys, as I would call it, because you need protection," he added.