Tennis ace Boris Becker wowed the world in the 1980s with his powerful playing style, blitzing to a Wimbledon triumph in 1985 at the age of just 17.

Since then he’s been world famous, but events in recent years led to a personal nadir. He’s just spent eight months in prison after he hid £2.5 million of assets and loans in a bankruptcy fraud case.

Boom! Boom! The World Vs Boris Becker explores this aspect of his life, alongside his tennis career (and other exploits). It makes for intriguing viewing.

Boom! Boom! The World Vs Boris Becker

Launched in February 2023, the documentary is available on AppleTV and was directed by Alex Gibney.

It’s not just about tennis, of course, but one look at some of Becker’s career stats and you get what’s going on:

• Former World No.1
• Youngest winner of the men’s Wimbledon Championship
• Won 64 titles (49 singles and 15 doubles)
• Won three Wimbledon titles
• Two Australian opens
• One US Open
• 13 Masters titles
• One Olympic gold in 1992

Most of that lot was accomplished before he turned 30. Now 55, he’s regarded as one of the best tennis players ever.

At over six feet, his playing style was characterised by extreme power.

With a serve speed of up to 139mph, his competitors would struggle to hit the ball back to him. Becker would rush the net post-serve to finish the point off. His relentless precision for this was often overwhelming.

His showmanship was also popular with tennis fans, as he’d often dive all over the place to win points. Even if this risked injury.

And he’d do all that without any hysterical tennis grunting, too.

Boom! Boom! The World Vs Boris Becker is a two-part documentary film. It’s quite the lengthy experience, as it goes on for over three hours.

However, it’s worth delving into. Becker is an intriguing man—his participation in the making of the film was very open. He’s there throughout.

He’s candid and appears honest. If there’s something he did wrong, a mistake, he’ll openly admit to it. There’s no bullshitting.

But he does come across as naïve. There’s a constant train of criticism to the documentary—Boris Becker is his worst enemy. It’s the battle of Boris versus himself.

His jet setting lifestyle, which he was used to from the age of 17 onwards, was something he didn’t want to abandon when he retired from tennis in June 1999. He carried on living the lifestyle, without the same earnings.

This led to business dealings to try and keep up with his lifestyle and, ultimately, a trip to British prison. That was for the £2.5 million to repay for bankruptcy. In April 2022, he was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

He spent eight months incarcerated at Wandsworth Prison in London.

Becker was jetted off to Germany the day of his release and won’t be allowed back into the UK until at least 2024.

So, yeah… what do you make of that? Alongside his affairs outside of his marriage to Barbara Feltus (divorce proceedings costing Becker a fortune), you’d expect to watch this documentary thinking the guy is a dickhead.

However, it’s a bit weird as he’s somewhat likeable and affable; despite his obvious flaws. He has charisma. To this, there’s no sign of a personality disorder, or manipulative tactics, he’s just a bit blundering, naïve, and didn’t want to give up the private jets.

Not that we’re excusing that—he’s paid for his issues with a spell in prison, a very costly divorce, and many other things.

Post-tennis retirement, he’d been a commentator for the BBC during Wimbledon and was well liked for his witty behaviour.

Since his release from jail, he’s asked the BBC if he can return.

We think that hints at his naïve sensibilities, as if he can brush off this reputational damage in the work of a moment.

But Boom! Boom! The World Vs Boris Becker is an intriguing watch. Long! But as loose tennis fans, thanks to our crush on Martina Hingis when we were younger, followed by a genuine appreciation for the skill of the players… well, it’s good.

Boom! Boom!

The Production of The World Vs Boris Becker

Again, to note, Becker was thoroughly involved in the production of the documentary. As was his ex-wife Barbara Feltus.

His tennis playing peers also crop up, including John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, and Michael Stich. Notably absent is Andre Agassi, primarily as he and Becker had a frosty relationship.

Director Alex Gibney spent three years with Becker, total access and all, to construct the documentary. At first, he expected it just to be a normal film about the player’s career.

However, the arrival of the prison development added an unexpected spin to the narrative.

The film has been very well received by most film critics. Particularly noted is its accessibility, even if you’re not a major tennis fan… although its enormous running time is emphasised. It’s still won people over.