Boris Becker, the youngest Wimbledon singles champion, shares a candid and unsettling account of his time in Wandsworth Prison in his upcoming autobiography, Inside. The memoir details his transition from celebrated athlete to inmate, revealing the stark realities of prison life, including struggles with personal safety and the pervasive presence of drugs.
In a passage published in the Daily Mail, Becker recounts an incident while attempting to shave with a substandard razor. “Trying to shave with the stubby little razor they had given me, I ended up with nicks on my cheeks and stabby slashes under my chin and down my neck,” he wrote. His description highlights the harsh conditions faced by inmates, including a troubling encounter with a prison doctor who questioned him about self-harm. Becker asserts, “Why would I? My mind was only focused on doing things to protect myself.”
As he navigated life behind bars, Becker discovered that contraband was easily accessible. He noted, “As the days went by, I learned that you could get anything you wanted in prison. Alcohol was easy.” He explained how inmates often created homemade alcohol from sugar and fruit, legally purchased from the canteen. The former tennis star also described the availability of various drugs, including marijuana and heroin, and hinted at the involvement of some prison staff in the illicit trade. “Sometimes it was the wardens – someone taking a cut, someone with a weakness or a problem left vulnerable to a bribe,” he stated.
Life in Wandsworth came with its own set of physical challenges. Becker vividly described the unsanitary conditions he faced, including filthy showers and the lack of basic hygiene. “Some days those showers would be icy cold. You never knew why. It was just another unpleasant fact in a day you don’t control,” he recalled. He was even advised to wear flip-flops while showering, saying, “Boris, wear them, because we don’t know who was there before. The first time in my life I ever showered in flip-flops.”
Throughout his sentence, Becker sought ways to cope with his circumstances. He engaged in teaching classes, reading, and maintaining regular phone communication with his partner, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro. These activities provided necessary distractions from the harsh realities of incarceration.
Inside will be officially released on September 25, 2023, and is anticipated to offer further insights into the life of a tennis legend turned inmate. As Becker opens up about his experiences, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the complex realities of life in prison and the personal struggles he faced during this challenging chapter of his life.
