For the tennis club chairman Axel Freitel, Boris Becker was a sporting role model.
Now the tennis legend is in prison.
Is that justified?
Geretsried – Boris Becker is in prison.
The former tennis star was sentenced in London on Friday to two and a half years in prison for delaying bankruptcy proceedings and concealing possessions.
With good behavior, the three-time Wimbledon winner must serve at least 15 months.
Is the verdict justified or too harsh from the point of view of a Becker fan?
We spoke to the chairman of the tennis club (TC) Geretsried, Axel Freitel (51).
Mr. Freitel, do you remember where you were on July 17, 1985, when the then 17-year-old Boris Becker sensationally won the Wimbledon tennis tournament for the first time?
Axel Freitel:
Yes, I can remember that Sunday very well.
I was 14 and played an away league game for my club at the time, TSV Forstenried.
My opponent and I had just finished the first set.
Of course, the Wimbledon final was on TV in the club room.
When everyone suddenly disappeared from the tennis courts indoors, my opponent and I agreed to move our match to an afternoon the following week - and also watch Becker vs. Kevin Curren.
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Axel Freitel, Chairman of TC Geretsried
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Geretsried: Tennis club chairman Axel Freitel on the verdict for tennis legend Boris Becker
Were you a big fan of Boris Becker?
Axel Freitel: Definitely
!
I started playing tennis when I was eight or nine years old.
My first big role model was Björn Borg.
And then, like everyone else, I was enthusiastic about Boris and Steffi Graf.
Becker's fighting spirit and his endless passion distinguished him.
He often turned a match that he thought was lost, it was just crazy.
I was later impressed by his expertise and his demeanor as a commentator.
The two Germans triggered an absolute boom in "white sport". Do you know whether that also applied to TC Geretsried and its membership development?
Axel Freitel:
Yes, I know that from my predecessor Klaus Köhler and other older TC members.
In the 1980s, the association demanded an admission fee plus two guarantors who guaranteed that a new member could also pay their annual fees.
Tennis was still pretty elite at that time.
Despite this, the number of members increased.
"
Bum-Bum-Boris" has moved a lot in tennis and contributed greatly to Germany's reputation in the world.
Do you feel sorry for him after his deep fall?
Axel Freitel: To be
honest, yes.
I think he had the wrong advisors at his side after the end of his playing career.
The whole patchwork family situation has contributed to his financial difficulties.
The judiciary probably wanted to make an example of him, according to the motto: There is no celebrity bonus for Becker.
It was similar with Uli Hoeneß.
“I think a fine would have been enough”
Do you think the verdict is too harsh?
Axel Freitel: In
my opinion, a fine would have been enough.
Becker has already lost everything anyway.
Of course, he should have disclosed his financial situation from the start instead of just getting into it.
I hope he succeeds in appealing the verdict and that his sentence ends as soon as possible.
I know that if you are not a passionate tennis player and tennis fan, you may see things differently.
Does today's young tennis talent have idols?
Axel Freitel:
Certainly not to the same extent as we did back then.
The younger ones are more like mum and dad (laughs).
The older ones like Alexander Zverev, for example.
We have a TV subscription for the ATP tournaments here in the club.
We often watch important games together.
Even if the legends like Becker and Graf are missing today, the TCG has no problems with youngsters.
After football and gymnastics, tennis is still the third most popular sport in Germany.
Tanya Lühr
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