TENNIS legend Boris Becker has become a stronger man, he said in his New Year’s message.
The star welcomed the New Year on São Tomé and Príncipe, off the west African coast with his girlfriend Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro.
Boris was deported back to Germany after his recent release from prison.
Boris reflected on the year he spent time in prison for £2.5m in bankruptcy fraud, calling it “the most difficult year of my life.”
The video, captioned “Wishing you all a healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2023!”, has been viewed over 250,000 times.
He said: “To all my loved ones and the people and the people who resepct me and stood by me in the most difficult year of my life: it’s done, it’s dusted.
“I came out alive; I think I came out stronger. I think my mental health is better than ever.
Boris said he wouldn’t have made it without the help and support of his loved ones.
Not everyone approves of Boris’s release – German influencer and close friend of his wife, Cathy Hummels, spoke harshly of Boris being released early from his sentence.
In her podcast she said Becker should have served the full length of his sentence.
She said: “This is a crime, what he has done, and so it’s justified that he has to serve [the sentence].
“He fooled people, he ruined them. You have to serve time. I’m mega serious. He has cheated many people, deceived them and fooled them.
“That’s just not right. You have to go to prison just like everybody else.”
Boris has hit back, as it was revealed days ago that he is filing a defamation lawsuit against the German model and ex-wife of football star Mats Hummels.
Boris has refused to comment further on the complaint he issued against Cathy.
Becker was declared bankrupt in June 2017, and owed creditors almost £50million over an unpaid loan of more than £3million on his estate in Mallorca, Spain.
Boris was found guilty in April 2022 of four Insolvency Act offences between June and October 2017.
Prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley said Becker “moved money and property quickly before it could be disclosed or discovered” after he was declared bankrupt.
She said: “He transferred money to various third parties to deprive his official trustees and creditors.
“The jury decided his actions were deliberate and dishonest.”
Aged just 17, Becker burst onto the scene in 1985 when he became Wimbledon’s youngest singles champion and the first unseeded player to lift the trophy at the All England Club.
Becker’s dynamic play and boyish enthusiasm — best captured in his penchant for spectacular diving volleys — made him the darling of Wimbledon crowds.
He successfully defended his Wimbledon title a year later, thrashing world number one Ivan Lendl in straight sets in the final.
Becker’s ferocious serve led to the nickname ‘Baby Boom Boom’ and ‘Der Bomber’.
