Tennis champ Boris Becker declared bankrupt
Former world number one tennis champion Boris Becker is “surprised and disappointed” after being declared bankrupt. Despite pleading for one last chance to pay off his “substantial” and long-standing debt, the German sportsman was declared bankrupt by a London Court. The star has owed an undisclosed amount to private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co. since 2015.
“Surprised and disappointed that Arbuthnot Latham chose to bring these proceedings against me,” the 49-year-old wrote on Twitter. “This order relates to one disputed loan which I was due to repay in full in one month's time! It is disappointing that my request for today's hearing to be postponed was refused. My earnings are well publicised and it was clear that I have the means to repay this debt.”
His lawyers argued that he did indeed have the means to repay the debt, explaining he would be able to raise over $8.8 million by remortgaging his property in Mallorca. Despite this, his lawyer John Briggs did concede the six-time Grand Slam winner was “not a sophisticated individual when it comes to finances.”
Becker’s total winnings over his 15-year tennis career totalled more than $27 million.