Tennis great Boris Becker could face jail after bankruptcy guilty verdict
- The former world No 1 was accused of hiding millions of pounds worth of assets, including two Wimbledon trophies, to avoid paying his debts
- Becker’s ‘vast’ earnings dipped ‘dramatically’ after retirement in 1999, and he went through an expensive divorce in 2001
Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker could be jailed for up to seven years after being found guilty of charges relating to his 2017 bankruptcy by a London court on Friday.
The 54-year-old German was accused of hiding millions of pounds worth of assets, including two Wimbledon trophies, to avoid paying his debts.
Becker, who has lived in Britain since 2012, said he had cooperated with trustees trying to secure his assets, even offering his wedding ring, and relied on the advisers who managed his life away from tennis.
Becker told the court he earned a “vast amount” during his career, with the court hearing he won some US$50 million in prize money and sponsorship deals.
But Becker, who went on to coach current men’s world No 1 Novak Djokovic for a spell, said his earnings “reduced dramatically” following his retirement in 1999.