Boris Becker Claims Germans Tried to “Crucify” Him After Tennis Losses
Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has made headlines again, this time claiming that Germans have been trying to “crucify” him for nearly four decades. The tennis star, who served seven and a half months in jail for hiding £2.5 million in assets after declaring bankruptcy, revealed that he’s faced criticism from his countrymen for everything from his looks to his lifestyle, taste in women, and match losses.
At the Berlin Film Festival on Monday, Becker spoke at a press conference for the presentation of his new documentary, ‘Boom! Boom! The World vs Boris Becker. ‘ When asked if he would now lead a more modest lifestyle after his bankruptcy scandal, the former champion responded defiantly: “I’ve had critics for 37 years, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Have I made mistakes? Of course. But name someone who hasn’t made mistakes. The difference is that my mistakes are always immediately reported to the whole world.“
Becker went on to cite examples of criticism, saying “Some don’t like my blue eyes, some don’t like my long nose. Some don’t like my taste in women. I’ve never been able to please everyone, and maybe I didn’t want to.” When asked about his addiction to sleeping pills during his career, he explained that “Life as a winning tennis machine is much harder than it looks. When I don’t win, Germans in particular try to crucify me.”
Boris Becker: “Prison Made Me Wiser and More Humble”:
Becker also mentioned that his time in jail had made him “wiser” and more “humble“. However, the German tabloid Bild highlighted that the ex-tennis champion is still living a millionaire’s lifestyle since his release. The tabloid has tracked his stays in Germany at five-star hotels and on the African island of São Tomé.
Boris spoke at the press conference after being branded a “devil” by his estranged wife Sharlely ‘Lilly‘ Kerssenberg. She told Bild that he hasn’t given her a current address so they can finalize divorce proceedings more than four years after they split. Dutch model Lilly, 46, also accused Becker of stopping child support payments for their son Amadeus, 13.
Becker’s controversial remarks have generated strong reactions from the German public. Some have defended him, arguing that he was simply misunderstood, while others have criticized his arrogance and lack of accountability. As the debate rages on, it is clear that the former tennis ace’s reputation has taken a hit. Despite this, he remains a popular figure in the world of tennis and has inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams. Whether he can redeem himself in the eyes of his critics remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his legacy will continue to loom large over the sport he helped to shape.
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