‘Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker’ streams on Apple TV+

Category: Television and Streaming

Stan Smith, Andy Roddick, Rod Laver,  Pancho Gonzales, Andy Murray, Illie Nastase, Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Conners, Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, and Boris Becker are among the best men tennis players in recent history. They dazzled us on the court and often their antics entertained fans but maybe not so much with the umpires. Boris Becker was only 17 when he burst onto the international tennis scene winning Wimbledon. His tennis was top notch but his personal life wasn’t always as great. The two-part Apple TV+ documentary, Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker, examines his rise and fall, with interviews from notable tennis players, family, friends, and Becker himself.

There are plenty of lessons to be learned from Boris Becker. First is that fame at a very young age needs to be handled with care. Those surrounding the celebrity, whether he/she is in sports or entertainment, have a duty to keep that person grounded. While Becker did have people around him, he was missing someone who could look out for his personal life and not be consumed by his performance on the court.

Another lesson from Becker and this documentary is that even though it is important to trust people, it is also important to keep an eye out for your own finances and know and understand where the money is going. It is also important for the new-found celeb to understand how to reign in finances. Once the money stops coming in, there is danger in spending the same way as when there was almost unlimited amounts of cash. Taxes, debts, etc. all take a toll when the money runs out.

And yet another, and perhaps the best lesson to learn from Boris Becker, is taking responsibility for one’s own actions. This is what Becker did and I applaud him for it. He owned up to his mistakes, went to jail, did his time, and is now out. Watching him and listening to him talk about his mistakes and owning up to them is heartening. By doing this, I believe Boris Becker’s reputation is not as tarnished as it could have been. Becker messed up his personal life as well as his finances. Yes,  he made mistakes, and plenty of them. Yes, he was a great tennis player. And yes, he has paid the price on and off the court.

Appearing in this documentary are tennis greats John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, and others who have known Becker over the years.

Boom! Boom! The World vs. the Boris Becker streams on Apple TV+ beginning April 7, 2023. It is an interesting look at the rise and fall of one of tennis’ greats.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

COURTESY PHOTO from APPLE TV+