Ex-business partner demands massive payment from Becker

A former business partner of German tennis star Boris Becker, who was last month declared bankrupt, is demanding the payment of 36.5 million euros ($54.4 million) which he claims he is owned by the former world no.1.

Swiss businessman Hans-Dieter Cleven claims he is owed 40 million Swiss francs by Becker but did not reveal the origin of the sum.

"After the recent decision by a court in London to declare Boris Becker bankrupt was made public, the former business partner of Boris Becker, entrepreneur Hans-Dieter Cleven felt obliged to enforce his demands in light of that procedure," law firm GHM Partners acting for Cleven said in a statement.

Becker's lawyer Christian-Oliver Moser told German news agency DPA, that Cleven was "lobbying in public" to win an "unfounded claim".

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Becker - who won six Grand Slams in the 1980s and '90s; three Wimbledon, two Australian Open and one US Open title - has denied he is bankrupt and told the German press he can meet all his obligations.

The 49-year-old is currently working as a television pundit during the Wimbledon championship in London.