Boris Becker: He reveals dependence on sleeping pills

At the age of 17, Boris Becker (55) became an international superstar overnight. In 1985 he won the most important tennis tournament in the world in Wimbledon and from then on he was in the public eye. Apparently, the hustle and bustle became too much for the young Becker as a result. In his new documentary “Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker”, which will be shown on the Apple TV+ streaming service in April, he even admits that he was addicted to tablets during this time. , says Becker about this time: “In 1987 I could no longer deal with the pressure of constantly having to deliver and win.”

He traveled from tournament to tournament, constantly suffered from jet lag and couldn’t switch off. At some point he couldn’t sleep anymore either: “After two long years I was exhausted.” He was advised by a doctor to take light sleeping pills to feel good again. But: “They were strong and addictive.” He didn’t wake up refreshed after five or six hours, but felt “dizzy” and at some point couldn’t sleep without the pills: “Without the pills I was awake at night. I talked to people, went out, drank. I wasn’t living the life of a professional athlete.”

Lost Wimbledon final against Stefan Edberg becomes a turning point

A lost Wimbledon final was later the reason for a rethink: in 1990 he dueled with his eternal rival Stefan Edberg (57) in his so-called living room, the center court of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. “I took my last pill at five in the morning. I woke up at 11:30 a.m. completely dazed, the game started at 2 p.m.,” says Becker in his documentary. After losing two first sets, Becker improved over the course of the game, but in the end he lost the duel. “I just thought: ‘You stupid idiot. You could have hit him.'” Looking back, however, it was “a moment to wake up” for him: “Right after the final, I threw the sleeping pills out the window.”