TENNIS ace Boris Becker is set to stand trial today after being accused of failing to hand over his array of trophies to settle his £50million debts.
The former Grand Slam champ, 54, was declared bankrupt in 2017 and will appear at Southwark Crown Court today.
Becker is accused of failing to hand over his trophies to clear his debts
He is set to appear at Southwark Crown Court today
Becker is accused of failing to hand over the memorabilia, which include the 1985 Wimbledon men’s singles title, as well as his Australian Open trophies in 1991 and 1996.
It is understood that the trophies are worth around £1.8 million, and at the time of his bankruptcy he had debts of up to £50million.
The German national has been charged with more than 20 counts and is set to face a three-week trial with Judge Deborah Taylor, and will be assisted by a translator.
Becker is also accused of removing hundreds of thousands of pounds by transferring it to other accounts, including to former wife Barbara Becker, and estranged wife Sharlely “Lilly” Becker.
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The former world number one and six-time Grand Slam champion collected 49 singles titles out of 77 finals during his 16 years as a professional tennis player.
He faces a maximum of seven years in prison if he is found guilty.
He denies seven charges of concealing property, two counts of removing property required by the receiver, five counts of failing to disclose details of his estate and one count of concealing debt.
Becker also denies nine counts of failing to disclose the trophies.
Aged just 17, Becker burst onto the scene in 1985 when he became Wimbledon’s youngest singles champion and the first unseeded player to lift the trophy at the All England Club.
Becker’s dynamic play and boyish enthusiasm — best captured in his penchant for spectacular diving volleys — made him the darling of Wimbledon crowds.
He successfully defended his Wimbledon title a year later, thrashing world number one Ivan Lendl in straight sets in the final.
Becker’s ferocious serve led to the nickname ‘Baby Boom Boom’ and ‘Der Bomber’.
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In 1989, Becker won Wimbledon for the third time and claimed his first US Open title just months later.
His long chase to become world number one paid off in 1991 when he won the Australian Open for the first time, beating Lendl in the final to move to the top of the rankings.
The trial will last three weeks and Becker will be assisted by a translator
