Boris Becker: from tennis greatness to financial disaster

Ever since the day in 1985 when he went from being an unseeded 17-year-old to the youngest male tennis player to win a Wimbledon final, Boris Becker has had a special bond with the British public.

Adored for his triumphs, the Wimbledon crowds loved him even in defeat: 10 years after becoming an overnight sensation on Centre Court, Becker was finally beaten by Pete Sampras. But it was Becker the crowd called for, cheering him into jogging a lap of the court so they could lavish applause on him.

Nicknamed Britain’s favourite German – he once joked he was “top of a short list” – his bond with the UK has endured for almost 40 years. Even once he hung up his racket, his good humour and colourful love life have ensured he has never strayed far from the public eye.

But the man once nicknamed “Boom Boom” for his powerful, aggressive serve is now not only bankrupt, despite once being worth an estimated £38m, but has been found guilty offour offences under the Insolvency Act. He was acquitted on another 20 charges.

Southwark crown court heard how Becker was accused of hiding millions of pounds by concealing assets, including the very same Wimbledon singles trophy he won in 1985, from his creditors.

In the closing speech of Becker’s defence barrister, Jonathan Laidlaw QC, jurors were told that although there was an element of Becker “burying his head in the sand” when it came to matters of money and finance, “some of [his] advisers were offering genuine good advice intended to be in the defendant’s best interest – others, as may be the way of the world, may have simply wanted a slice of the pie his fame and fortune offered”.

Becker’s time at the top is still the stuff of sporting legend – always on the attack, charging up to the