Boris Becker

I’m a different man now. I’m still a romantic, I still believe in love, but when I met Barbara I was looking for it. Now, I don’t know.

I don’t know how many millions of photographs have been taken of me.

Before, I wouldn’t have sacrificed anything for tennis but when I met Barbara it was different. I would have sacrificed tennis for Barbara.

For a year, I had all sorts of weirdos coming on to me.

[Roger Federer] We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game in a way I haven’t seen anyone – and I mean anyone – play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated – and the wonderful feel he has stays with him – he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.

I can’t change history, I don’t want to change history. I can only change the future. I’m working on that.

I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.

When I get up and work out, I’m working out just as much for my girls as I am for me, because I want them to see a mother who loves them dearly, who invests in them, but who also invests in herself. It’s just as much about letting them know as young women that it is okay to put yourself a little higher on your priority list.

My father died in 1960. He was an intellectual. . . . She made the money and he read a lot. He wasn’t successful or ambitious. He spoke lots of languages. There were times that kids said to me, ‘What does your father do?’ and I had to make something up because I actually didn’t know what he did.

My parents were neither very poor nor conspicuously honest.

I was probably 10 or 11 when I saw that, and sort of started thinking, ‘You know what? Marriage is an option. Having a family is an option. And going to school and getting your education and building your career is another really viable option that can lead to happiness and fulfillment.

There are a few things that were just sheer, unadulterated joy, like the birth of my children.

No person in their right mind would want to put their family through what I’ve had to put my family through.

I have real good parents. They poor. They have regular, poor jobs and what not. They real good people and what not; I was just raised in a bad society.

A sibling represents a person’s past, present, and future.

Growing up, I was taught that a man has to defend his family. When the wolf is trying to get in, you gotta stand in the doorway. He has to get through you first before he gets into the house to get your family. I’m one of those guys who wants to be in that door.

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

The family is very important. They make me feel good always because if I won, when I started to be famous, the relationship never changed with my friends and family.

Having lots of siblings is like having built-in best friends.

When I’m happier and healthier, my family is happier and healthier, and it affects how I interact with my friends and the people I work with.

I guess my parents were strict. There were a few times when being with my friends and had bring my sister. It was just my parents best interests.