Tennis icon Boris Becker has admitted he regrets winning Wimbledon at just 17, saying the early success brought immense pressure and altered the course of his life.

Becker, now 57, stunned the sporting world in 1985 when he defeated Kevin Curren in the Wimbledon final, becoming the youngest-ever men’s champion at the All England Club. The victory catapulted him to instant global fame and established him as one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Speaking in a candid interview with BBC Sport on Wednesday, September 24, Becker reflected on how the triumph came too soon in his life.

“If you remember any other wunderkind, they usually don’t make it to 50 because of the trials and tribulations that come after,” Becker said. “Whatever you do, wherever you go, whoever you talk to, it becomes a world sensation.”

The six-time Grand Slam champion explained that the worldwide spotlight complicated his path to adulthood.

“You’re just trying to mature, just trying to find your feet in the world,” he noted. “When you start a second career everything is measured at this success of winning Wimbledon at 17. And that changed the road ahead tremendously. I’m happy to have won three, but maybe 17 was too young. I was still a child.”

Despite the challenges, Becker remains one of the most celebrated figures in tennis history, with three Wimbledon titles and a lasting impact on the sport.