Love child followed Wimbledon defeat: Becker

Boris Becker said a sexual encounter he had with a Russian model which resulted in the birth of a baby daughter came about after he went on a drinking spree after losing to Patrick Rafter at Wimbledon.

In an ARD television interview late on Monday, Becker said he was seduced by a Russian model living in London, Angela Ermakowa, after losing his last match in Wimbledon in 1999.

Becker, three-times Wimbledon champion, said he had spent the afternoon drinking and, after an argument with his pregnant wife Barbara, had the encounter with Ermakowa.

"It wasn't even an affair," Becker said. "It was an act that lasted five seconds. I never saw her before and never saw her again afterwards... It's a mistake that is going to haunt me for the rest of my life."

German newspapers have reported the incident took place in a laundry room inside a restaurant in London.

Becker, 33, admitted in February that he was the father of Anna Ermakowa, now 11 months old, after the paternity was confirmed by DNA testing. His comments in the Monday evening talk show were his first on the encounter with the Russian model.

"It happened on the last day of my tennis career after I lost on Centre Court to Patrick Rafter," Becker said.

"Starting at about 2 p.m. I had one drink after another. All afternoon long, all evening long. And then there was a row with Barbara, a discussion I don't want to get into now.

"I then drank more and completely lost control of my nerves," he added. "That only happened once in my life so far -- only on that day. The result is brutal for me, especially for my wife, my children and my mother."

Becker was divorced from his wife Barbara in January after seven years. The couple reached a multi-million dollar settlement after months of acrimony. Their two children live with Barbara Becker in Florida.

Becker had said in February that the baby was not the reason why he and his wife had split.

Becker, who at the age of 17 in 1985 became the youngest man to win Wimbledon, retired from competitive tennis in 1999 and has since become involved in sports marketing.