“I walked through the gate of Wimbledon and everyone knew,” Boris Becker recalls his days of struggle after bankruptcy
Follow Us
Boris Becker
Boris Becker, the former Wimbledon champion, told a London court he was “shocked” and “embarrassed” after being certified bankrupt only days before the tournament in 2017. The six-time Grand Slam champion said the negative press has harmed his “brand Becker” and made it difficult for him to pay off his debts.
Boris Becker was filed for bankruptcy in June 2017 and is currently on trial for neglecting to turn over assets, including nine trophies and medals from his illustrious tennis career. Becker was working for the BBC, as well as Australian and Japanese television stations, when he went bankrupt, according to the court.
“It is very difficult to make a lot of money with my name”- Borris Becker
The German said, “As you can imagine, I was very shocked at the fact. Because it was all over world news, and I walked through the gate of Wimbledon and everyone knew. I was embarrassed because I was bankrupt.”
He told jurors that the bankruptcy occurred during a “stressful time” for him and his then-wife Sharlely “Lilly” Becker, who were living in “separate quarters” at their rented Wimbledon home. “My son called me saying my wife was breaking down the house – the furniture, the windows. While I was on the job, the cops arrived,” he recalled, referring to an incident that occurred while he was commentating on the men’s quarter-final involving Roger Federer.
Boris Becker sat in the witness box on Monday, accompanied by his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, to give testimony. He stated he has been subjected to negative publicity “all around the world,” but particularly in Germany and the United Kingdom, which has harmed his capacity to earn. “It is very difficult when you are bankrupt and in the headlines every week for it. It is very difficult to make a lot of money with my name,” the former Wimbledon champion concluded.
What are the charges that Boris Becker has been accused of?
The 24 charges he has been accused of include:
- Nine counts of failing to deliver up trophies and other awards
- Seven counts of concealing property totalling more than €1.5m
- Five counts of failing to disclose estate, including properties in Germany and London, shares, and a bank account
- Two of removal of property amounting to almost €500,000
- One of concealing €825,000 of debt
Also Read: UK Court makes striking revelation about Boris Becker offering his ‘Wedding Ring’ to pay debts
Stay Updated!
Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)