Boris Becker advises making friends with "the strong boys" as he remembers his "extremely scary" prison existence.
In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, tennis star Boris Becker expressed his gratitude for simply being alive and his reflections on his time spent behind bars.
After completing only eight months of his two-and-a-half-year sentence for charges connected to his 2017 bankruptcy case,
Becker was released from Huntercombe prison in December.Becker revealed to German television station Sat 1 shortly after his release that he had been the target of a murder attempt while incarcerated.
Being outside feels amazing, Becker told Amanpour. "Let me tell you, you don't appreciate freedom until you've been imprisoned.
It's a new world and a different way of living. I've been out for more than three months, and I'm glad to be chatting to you and still be alive.
"Life inside a prison is quite dangerous. I watched a few movies beforehand to help me mentally prepare, but I didn't anticipate it to be that way.
It's absolutely scary. It's a severe penalty. Prison is supposed to be that, but it's a serious punishment that robs you of your freedom and means of support.
You better befriend the tough lads because you need security and a group of people to watch out for you. Your character and personality are practically the only assets you have.
The 55-year-old, a six-time grand slam champion, spoke with Amanpour before the debut of a new documentary on his life and career, titled "Boom! Boom! It's Boris Becker vs. the World.