Boris Becker

I drew my strength from fear. Fear of losing. I don’t remember the games I won, only the games I lost.

[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 didn’t start a war. Nobody died.

I go to London, my favourite city in the world, and I feel at home.

I had the pleasure of competing at the Olympic Games and at Wimbledon and was fortunate enough to win the gold medal in both events,

I lost in the second round of the French Open and had 10 days off. I went to the Hard Rock Cafe. It was exciting to be away from my parents, to stay in a hotel. Hotels at 17 meant freedom.

Remember-the only place men want depth in their women is in her décolletage.

I was bored one day so my Dad took me to this acting school. I liked it more than having fun – I liked it for a job.

Being on tour is like being in limbo. It’s like going from nowhere to nowhere.

I think the Grammy is like the award, you know.

You have to let people see what you wrote. It will never be perfect, but perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring.

We don’t want to be influenced, just informed.

I never dreamed I would receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, mostly because my style is so typically Austrian.

My worst habit is speaking to much.

I’ve discovered as I’ve grown up that life is far more complicated than you think it is when you’re a kid. It isn’t just a straightforward fairytale.

Diamonds never leave you… men do!

Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” was constantly on my FM Walkman radio around that time. I think that made me cry because I associated it with absolutely no one.

My little cousin tells me I look like Magneto so I guess that’s who I should probably play.

I like the red carpet. It’s like acting because it’s like a fairytale.

[on animals] When I see a toreador in a bullfight getting gored I think: ‘Good, you shouldn’t be in there’. What is the pleasure in seeing an animal speared to death? It’s the same with fox hunting. They’re just psychopaths. I think I’ll end up doing something with animals – running a sanctuary or something.

I am a big Jeff Richmond fan.