More Than The Score

Boris Becker: 'I won Wimbledon too young – I was still a child'


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Tennis legend Boris Becker says he regrets winning Wimbledon at the age of 17 because of the pressure it placed on him during and after his playing career.

In 1985 the German beat Kevin Curren to become the youngest ever Wimbledon men's singles champion. He won five more Grand Slam titles, including another two at Wimbledon, and became one of the greatest players of his generation.

But his success was often overshadowed by a turbulent private life and repeated financial difficulties which resulted in a spell in prison. In 2023 he was sentenced to two-and-a-half-year for hiding over £2.5m worth of assets and loans to avoid paying debts. He served eight months of his sentence.

Ahead of the release of his autobiography, he spoke to BBC Sport's Sports News Correspondent, Andy Swiss, about his time behind bars and why he feels winning the biggest prize in tennis had such a negative effect on his life.

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More Than The ScoreBy BBC World Service