Boris Becker

When I was a child, I had posters of James Dean in my room. I was a big admirer of his work and was fascinated by him living on the edge. Looking back, my life was kind of the same.

Thats the hard part about sport: as men we havent started to be in our prime, but as athletes we are old people. I needed support. I lost trust and did stupid things.

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

Tennis has to be very careful.Not everyone is a computer, it is very good we have John McEnroe. I hope we have a couple more.

I haven’t lost a war. No one got killed. I just lost a tennis match.

Its silly to say it about a tennis player, but Im an unbelievable hero in Germany. And Germany needs heroes more than any place.

Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions.

You fight, you try your best, but if you lose, you don’t have to break five racquets and smash up the locker room. You can do those things, but when you’ve finished, nothing’s changed. You’ve still lost. If something positive came from that, I probably would do it. But I see only negativity.

I swim almost every day, a thousand meters.

I always wanted to be honest with myself and to those who have had faith in me.

I learned during all my career to enjoy suffering.

It is unbelievable to me that I can win against the best player in the world, against one of the best in history. It’s very important and very special for me, especially because I was three months off the court.

I love this game, I love this sport, I love this league. Why don’t I get my own team?

It’s important for the young players to practice other ball games as well, basketball or table tennis. On the tennis court, you can improve your eye through a kind of overexertion.

Gaudio is playing very well. Today he played at an incredible level, especially on his backhand. But I am only thinking of my own game, and of playing well.

I appreciate a lot in this life; the things you cannot buy. Life is only once.

If somebody says I am better than Roger, I think this person doesn’t know anything about tennis.

So this is it. Match point for eternity.

I feel that love. I feel that energy. I always felt that energy when I’m playing in New York.

Some clubs are treated as devils, some are treated as angels.

I am afraid of a lot of things. A dog. I could be afraid of a dog that’s upset, for example. And on the tennis courts, maybe on the outside I look fearless, but on the inside, I’m scared. There’s not one player in the world who isn’t nervous before matches. Especially important matches.