Günther Bosch was his closest confidant, when Boris Becker was appointed to the board on 7. July 1985 in Wimbledon turned the tennis world upside down. The 80-year-old now speaks before the age of 50. On the occasion of the 50th birthday of his former protégé with SID about the side effects of Becker’s career, about the broken-off contact with the German tennis icon.
SID:”You led 17-year-old Boris Becker from Leimen to the first title in Wimbledon. Did you have any idea what life he was going to lead at the age of 50?”
Günther Bosch:”It was difficult to imagine. What’s left of his career today is not so pleasant. He has to pay for his use as a professional now. His playing took up a lot of his body, his hip and ankle problems are no accident.”
SID:”Was there an alternative to this strenuous playing style?”
Bosch:”No. This way of jumping and pitching came from his inner urge to reach every ball, no matter how hopeless it seemed. When we trained at Long Island on hard court, he threw himself after every ball, I just closed my eyes and thought:’ For God’s sake, it’s too dangerous.’ But Boris forgot his body in those moments.”
SID:”Nevertheless, he had hardly any problems with injuries during his active career…”
Bosch:”Boris had a special body. He was strong, at the beginning he was even a bit plump, he didn’t have any real muscles yet. But he was very agile, he could do things that no other player could. His body wasn’t built to be vulnerable to injury. In addition, we trained very naturally, were in the altitude training camp in the snow instead of in the weight room. “Stretching before the matches was the be-all and end-all.”
SID:”Did you talk to him then about what life at the age of 50 looks like?”
Bosch:”It has never gone this far. He told me at 17 that he wanted to be a coach after his career. I would like him to tell young people today what it was like for him at this age, how much he trained and how much he sacrificed. But he’s just talking about the great hotels and the good times.”
SID:”Boris Becker once said that he dreamed of winning Wimbledon as a child, but not of winning Wimbledon as a child. What influence did this 7. July 1985 from your perspective on his life?”
Bosch:”The side effects of success certainly had an impact on his life, on him as a person. But success cannot be planned. If a player has a chance to win, he does his best, regardless of age. So I can’t say the 17-year-old Wimbledon win was premature.”
SID:”Become him to the 50. Birthday call?”
Bosch:”You know that our relationship is not as it should be. Boris can’t forgive me for quitting back then. But it didn’t go on like this for me. I don’t regret the decision. And you know what about my 50th birthday. Birthday (1. March 1987, the Red.)?”
SID:”Please tell us…”
Bosch:”Actually, the biggest Mercedes was supposed to be on my doorstep as a gift from Boris, but one month earlier we got together on the 27th of September. January separate. My friends thought I was crazy, they told me to hang in there to get the Mercedes. It went to Boris’ father. But the car didn’t matter to me.”
SID:”Would you like to get back in touch with him?”
Bosch:”Contact? That would be something. But I can’t advise him on his current problems. I can’t solve the Boris Becker riddle. It’s a mystery to me what’s going on around him. I want to remember the time I spent together, what I experienced with him at first hand. Those were the best times. I live with that. I remember that.”
SID:”And what do you wish him for his 50th birthday? Birthday?”
Bosch:”More than anything else, I wish Boris health. I wish him to be able to move again painlessly, that everything will be all right, that he will remain with the tennis and that he will be able to enjoy his age and health better again”.