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I’m a Wimbledon finalist and Australian Open winner who was once arrested by police ON COURT during a doubles match

FORMER Wimbledon finalist Roscoe Tanner was once arrested ON COURT and was not released until he coughed up $40,000.

The former world number 14 has had an eventful time away from tennis since retiring and has frequently been involved with the authorities.

Roscoe Tanner reached the Wimbledon final in 1979

The ex-pro has found himself on the wrong side of the law on several occasions


He ended up in jail on more than one occasion

Tanner, 71, has a big rap sheet with charges of fraud, theft, and failure to pay child support brought against him.

In 1993 the American had an affair and fathered a child with the woman in question, who then took him to court after he denied paternity.

Tanner agreed to pay $500,000 (£390,000) in child support but never coughed up the money, instead deciding to put his money towards a complex called Tanner Tennis Lodge.

In 1996 a court ordered Tanner to pay $1000 a month and his failure to do so resulted in his arrest on court during a doubles match he played in Florida in 1997.

He was released after making a $40,000 back payment but moved to Germany to avoid the $1000 monthly payments.

That led to another arrest with Tanner ending up in jail for a year after US marshals brought him back to America.

Tanner has also been in trouble with the police for writing bad checks and in 2014 he served ten days for driving with a suspended license.

A year later he was arrested once again for failing to appear in court, but got his life back on track by opening up his own tennis training camp where he works as a coach.

Tanner had a successful playing career, winning his only Grand Slam at the Australian Open champion in 1977.

He also reached the Wimbledon final in 1979 and twice made the US Open semi-final, in 1974 and 1979.

The American won the Davis Cup in 1981 alongside John McEnroe and held the record for the fastest serve at 153 miles per hour, which was later broken by his compatriot Andy Roddick.