Boris Becker has revealed he "literally lost everything" during his time in prison and admitted that almost everyone from his former inner circle has disappeared from his life.
The six-time Grand Slam champion spent eight months behind bars after being sentenced to two-and-a-half years in 2022 for concealing assets and loans worth £2.5million following his bankruptcy.
Becker was released from prison in December 2022 and deported from the United Kingdom, where he remains banned from entering under the terms of his deportation order.
The 58-year-old is currently attempting to overturn that decision through discussions with the Home Office, hoping one day to return to Wimbledon, a tournament he won three times and where he later became a familiar face as a BBC pundit.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Becker reflected on his experience in prison and the soul-searching that followed.
"When you are incarcerated, you literally lose everything," he said.
"All that is left is your personality, your character.
"So you have to dig down inside to ask, 'OK, who am I? Is this going to kill me, or is this going to make me stronger?'"
Boris Becker has revealed he "literally lost everything" during his time in prison and admitted that almost everyone from his former inner circle has disappeared from his life
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Becker explained that each passing month helped him rediscover himself and forced him to confront the mistakes that ultimately led to his imprisonment.
"You think, 'What went wrong for me to end up in Wandsworth?'" he said.
"You have to be convinced you will survive.
"And once you do, the question is, 'What do I do when I get out?'"
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Five things to know about Wimbledon | GB NEWSRather than dwell on his downfall, Becker says he used his time in prison to map out a route back into public life.
"That's why the comeback happened so quickly, because I was already preparing while inside," he said.
"I wasn't whining, I wasn't making other people responsible for my mistakes.
"I said, 'OK, I f****d up.'"
Becker credits his wife Lilian and a small number of trusted supporters for helping him rebuild his life.
Among those who stood by him was Novak Djokovic, although the German admits most of his old acquaintances are no longer around.
"Probably even 95 per cent," Becker said when asked how many people from his previous circle had disappeared.
"That doesn't mean I don't say hello – I see their numbers and I write them a friendly 'No'."
Boris Becker won three Wimbledon titles throughout his career | PAThe former world No 1 believes many people remain stunned by the speed of his return to broadcasting and public life.
"I find people look at me and shake their head, saying, 'We can't believe you're back. How did you do it?'"
"And then I think to myself, 'How should I take this? Are you happy for me or not?'"
Becker now lives in Milan with Lilian and their seven-month-old daughter Zoe, having chosen not to return to Germany after his deportation.
He has resumed punditry work with Sky Italia but admits there is one place he misses more than any other.
"I don't think I miss London, but I miss Wimbledon," Becker said. "It's my birthplace, in a sense. I feel so close to the club, to the courts.
"I have a story on every court, in every corner, in the locker room, in the car park. I probably know Wimbledon better than anyone else alive."