Boris Becker

Every time you are not practicing someone else is.

An autobiography is not about pictures; it’s about the stories; it’s about honesty and as much truth as you can tell without coming too close to other people’s privacy.

The boys are so powerful off of the baseline now that they don’t have to come to the net to finish points. That’s the reason we went to the net. To finish the point. Nowadays, even the big guys can hit winners four feet behind the baseline.

I go to my favourite tournament, I talk about my favourite sport and it’s just a great month of parading.

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 didn’t start a war. Nobody died.

I swim almost every day, a thousand meters.

I think I am a complete player. I can play well on all the surfaces. For me, the clay might be easiest, but I am not a specialist on clay.

How does one control weight? By not overeating. How does one stay in shape? One plays sports. There are no magic pills here.

Look at my haircut. I am ready for the war.

I am No. 8 in the world. I am not No. 100.

Since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to do sports for a living. In the beginning, I played a lot of soccer, but in the end I chose tennis. I love sports in general … But tennis is my passion.

For sure, with golf it’s not a physically demanding sport like tennis. That’s what makes tennis great – you combine both things. It’s a very mental sport and at the same time can be dramatically physical. But I do admire the mentality of sport more than the physicality because physical performance is much easier to practice than mental performance.

There are many moments during a match when you are tense, wrestling with yourself. Tennis is a lesson in self-control.

The first match is never easy. To play three sets with some important moments, that’s important for the confidence.

Confidence is the most important thing in this sport, and the confidence from winning Wimbledon would make it easier to win the Olympics, too. Either would be very difficult, both even more-but the player who wins Wimbledon will be the favorite for the Olympics. It can happen.

You just try to play tough and focus point for point. Sounds so boring, but it’s the right thing to do out there.

What distinguishes tennis is respect for one’s opponent, one’s conduct on the court.

Playing well or playing bad, I have to play aggressive. I must play aggressive.

Anyone could become a star, but everyone must be a human being.

I am thrilled to be the new team captain. I am sure that the pressures I’ve faced on centre court will stand me in good stead to battle it out against Ian and his team.