Boris Becker 'embarrassed' as bankruptcy woes laid bare in court
Tennis icon Boris Becker has revealed to a London court he felt "embarrassed" after he declared bankruptcy in 2017 ahead of the Wimbledon tournament he was commentating on.
The six-time grand slam champion is currently on trial accused of failing to hand over assets including nine trophies and medals from his glittering tennis career.
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Becker was working as a commentator for the BBC - along with Australian and Japanese outlets - in 2017 when his admitted to court he felt 'shocked' and 'embarrassed' working at Wimbledon having been in the news.
"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," he told court.
"I was embarrassed because I was bankrupt."
The 54-year-old German said he had been seeking to pay off a more than £3 million ($AUD 5.24 million) loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham, including through the sale of his estate in Spain.
Becker said he was struggling to earn money because of 'damaging publicity "all around the world", but said it impacted him most in Germany and the UK.
"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," he said.
Boris Becker admits 'stress' due to marriage breakdown
Becker also admitted to court he was going through a 'stressful' time with his ex-wife.
The tennis champ recounted a story of a message he had received while commentating a Roger Federer match at Wimbledon involving his former wife Sharlely "Lilly" Becker.
The pair were living in 'separate quarters' of their rented home in London.
"My son called me saying my wife was breaking down the house - the furniture, the windows. The police came... while I was on site," he added.
The former World No.1, who was occasionally helped to give evidence by a German translator, denies 24 charges under the Insolvency Act.
They include nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and other awards, seven of concealing property, five of failing to disclose estate, two of removal of property and one of concealing debt.
Becker won 49 singles titles out of 77 finals during his 16 years as a professional tennis player.
He shocked the tennis world at the age of 17 in 1985 when he became Wimbledon's youngest men's singles champion, before repeating the feat the following year.
Nicknamed "Boom Boom" Becker for his massive serve, he won Wimbledon for a third time in 1989.
He also won the Australian Open twice and the US Open during his glittering career, becoming the top-ranked player in the world in 1991.
with AFP
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