BERLIN — Tennis nice Boris Becker tearfully recounted the second the door of his single-occupancy cell at Britain’s infamous Wandsworth jail closed for the primary time, talking publicly after serving eight months for chapter offenses.”It was the loneliest second I’ve ever had in life,” Becker mentioned in an interview with German broadcaster SAT.1 that aired Tuesday, recalling how hours earlier he had been unable to say farewell to his family members earlier than being led downstairs to the courtroom jail.The three-time Wimbledon champion was sentenced to 30 months in jail in April for illicitly transferring massive quantities of cash and hiding property after he was declared bankrupt. Becker would usually have needed to serve half of his sentence earlier than being eligible for launch, however was launched early below a fast-track deportation program for overseas nationals.Becker, who was deported to his native Germany on Dec. 15, mentioned he prayed day by day within the three weeks between his conviction and sentencing, acutely aware that there was an opportunity he may not get away with a suspended sentence.Arriving in Wandsworth, the 55-year-old Becker mentioned he feared assaults by different inmates.”The numerous movies I noticed beforehand did not assist,” he mentioned.2 RelatedBecker mentioned jail authorities appeared to have tried to make sure his security, allocating him a single cell and getting three skilled inmates — or “listeners” — to information him in his new life behind bars.That included dealing with the dearth of meals, Becker mentioned, as jail fare was largely restricted to rice, potatoes and sauce. “Sunday roasts” consisted of a rooster drumstick, he mentioned.”I felt starvation for the primary time in my life,” mentioned Becker, who received the primary of many thousands and thousands of {dollars} as a participant on the age of 17.Violence was an issue, he mentioned, recounting situations at Wandsworth and later at HMP Huntercombe the place inmates threatened to hurt him till others stepped in.In November, fellow prisoners organized a number of desserts for his birthday, Becker mentioned.”I’ve by no means skilled such solidarity within the free world,” he mentioned, including that he deliberate to remain in contact with a number of the folks he’d met in jail.For Becker, who rose to stardom in 1985 at age 17 when he turned the primary unseeded participant to win the boys’s singles title at Wimbledon, the jail sentence was a heavy blow.Requested concerning the choose’s assertion that Becker had proven “no humility,” he acknowledged within the interview that “possibly I ought to have (been) much more clear, extra emotional.”Becker additionally admitted fault.”In fact I used to be responsible,” he mentioned of the 4 out of 29 counts he was convicted on.Nonetheless, Becker mentioned he “it might have been a lot worse.”After retiring from skilled tennis in 1999, the six-time Grand Slam champion labored as a coach and tv pundit whereas additionally participating in a variety of investments and celeb poker video games.Now he hopes to show a brand new web page and keep away from the errors he made prior to now — a lot of which he blamed on laziness and dangerous monetary recommendation obtained from others.”For years I made errors, I had false mates,” he mentioned. “I feel this time in jail introduced me again.”Becker’s time outdoors the limelight doubtless will not final lengthy. Organizers of the annual Berlinale mentioned Tuesday that subsequent 12 months’s movie competition will function the premiere of an as-yet untitled documentary about Becker by Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney.
Becker remembers loneliness, mates made in jail
