Less than a week after Boris Becker was freed after serving seven and a half months in a UK jail, he spoke of his loneliness, his fears and the lessons he learned.
In a lengthy and at times emotional one-on-one German TV interview, he revealed he had learned a hard, painful and very expensive lesson and rediscovered the person he used to be. Some things happen for good reasons.
Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in April last year for hiding his assets and debts. His Spanish estate in Majorca was declared bankrupt due to an outstanding loan of more than three million dollars.
The former tennis champion was deported to Germany last week on a private plane. On Tuesday night, his interview with Steven Gtjen was broadcasted.
He was held at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London, but the majority of his sentence was spent at Huntercombe Prison. It is more secure than an open prison because it is a Category C jail.
Becker was dressed in black for the interview and immediately lost some of his weight. His hair was light in color. He said that in prison you are just a number. He was named A2923 EV.
He said he felt hungry for the first time in his life when he arrived in jail and lost 7 kilograms. It was good to be in prison. I didn't drink even though they had alcohol.
He claimed that he was given a cell to himself because of his name. He had never had a moment like that before, when the door slammed shut. He couldn't sleep because of the screams of fellow inmates.
He admitted to being shocked when he found out how he had changed, because he didn't have a mirror in his cell.
He was afraid of taking a shower because of the attacks he had seen in films, but he had enough privacy to not see anyone naked. He talked about a prisoner who tried to get money from him.
Becker described prison life as a challenge, with death threats, dirty cells, and highly dangerous inmates. I was worried about having a double cell. Your cellmate is capable of attacking or threatening you.
He said that for the first three weeks he tried to stay out of harms way. He kept his eyes closed and avoided looking at other inmates.
He said that he had an altercation with an inmates who wanted to kill him.
Becker said that he was told all the things that would happen to him. The other prisoners had to help him when he shouted for help. He said that prison guards turned up slowly or not at all.
The man kissed his hand after asking for his forgiveness and believing that he had underestimated Becker's position in prison.
He got to know three inmates he calls Jake, Russell and Billy who he says saved his life.
After three months at Huntercombe, Becker was transferred to another wing where he worked as a fitness trainer and teacher.
He spoke movingly of the support he had received from two figures from the world of German sport who know the UK, and he was full of praise for some of his fellow inmates.
The prison didn't want the fuss so they wouldn't allow Jrgen Klopp to visit, even though he wanted to.
Becker's partner and his two older sons came every two weeks, but he decided it was better for his younger two children to stay away.
He wanted to go home after the two hours, but instead went back to his cell and the reality of prison life came back.
He was paid 500,000 for an interview that lasted more than two hours.
He said that his time in prison gave him time to rethink his life and to become closer to his partner. He said his relationship with his daughter had gotten closer.
He said there was nothing left when the cell door closed. He needed to not waste his second chance.
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