Boris Becker ‘shocked and embarrassed’ at being made bankrupt, court told

Tennis star Boris Becker has told a jury he was “shocked” and “embarrassed” after he was declared bankrupt days before commentating on the Wimbledon tournament.

The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, told Southwark Crown Court that bad publicity had damaged “brand Becker”, meaning he struggled to make enough money to pay off his debts.

He was declared bankrupt on June 21, 2017 and is on trial accused of failing to hand over assets including nine trophies and medals from his glittering tennis career.

Becker said he had been seeking to pay off a more than £3 million loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham, including through the sale of his estate in Mallorca, Spain, known as the Finca, and was “very shocked”.

The court heard the decision came days before the two-week Wimbledon tournament, where he was working for the BBC as well as Australian and Japanese television stations.

Becker said he felt “very embarrassed”, adding: “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 the bankruptcy was also in the midst of a “stressful time” with his then wife Sharlely “Lilly” Becker, while they were living in “separate quarters” at his £22,000-a-month rented house in Wimbledon, south-west London.

Describing an incident while he was commentating on the men’s quarter final involving Roger Federer, he said: “My son called me saying my wife was breaking down the house – the furniture, the windows. The police came… while I was on site.”

Becker, who arrived at court hand in hand with his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, sat at the witness box on Monday to give evidence, as the jury were told he has injuries to his ankle and knees.