Tennis legend Boris Becker is declared bankrupt at High Court hearing – after blowing £27million fortune
The three-time Wimbledon champ was once reputedly worth £27million
TENNIS champ Boris Becker has been declared bankrupt at a High Court hearing today - by a court official who once watched him play on Centre Court.
Lawyers for the three-time Wimbledon winner pleaded with a Bankruptcy Court registrar in London for "a last chance" to pay back a long-standing debt.
But judge Christine Derrett said it was "with regret" she concluded there was a lack of credible evidence that his "substantial" debt would be paid soon, refusing to adjourn the case for another 28 days.
She said of 49-year-old Becker, who did not attend the hearing: "One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand."
The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co in connection with a judgment debt owed to them by Becker dating as far back as 2015.
Becker's lawyers argued the tennis ace would be able to pay the debt through a refinancing arrangement, involving remortgaging a property in Mallorca expected to raise €6million (£5.26million).
His advocate told the registrar Becker expected the deal would be approved by a Spanish bank in about a month.
He said it would be in the bank's interest for Becker to pay off the debt.
Becker's Mallorcan villa was previously confiscated by the Palma authorities in 2014 after he failed to pay £312,300 he allegedly owed a local builder, the reported.
The property was previously confiscated after he became embroiled in a court case over £246,000 he allegedly owed his gardener.
When the registrar was told that Becker was a television commentator, she replied: "I know exactly who he is. I remember watching him play on Centre Court, which probably shows my age."
MOST READ IN NEWS
Becker's advocate, John Briggs, told the registrar bankruptcy was likely to have an adverse effect on the former tennis champ's "image".
But she replied: "He should have thought about that a long time ago."
She added: "It is not often the case that a professional person has a judgment outstanding against them since October 2015. This is a historic debt.
"One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand."
Mr Briggs said: "He is not a sophisticated individual when it comes to finances.
"I am asking for a real last chance for Mr Becker to come good... It has just taken longer than anticipated."
Mr Becker, once reputedly worth £160million, stunned the world back in 1985 when he became the youngest player to win Wimbledon at 17.
The father-of-four went on to rack up six grand slams and romanced a succession of beautiful women.
In 1999 he romped with waitress Angela Ermakova in the broom cupboard of London restaurant Nobu just hours after his pregnant first wife Barbara was rushed to hospital with contractions.
The champ was consoling himself with a few drinks after losing a match a Wimbledon, but the bunk-up led to the birth of his third child.
He and Barbara divorced in 2001, with her taking £10million and a £1.8million house in Florida.
After his split with wife Barbara, Becker was briefly engaged to Alessandra Meyer-Wolden, but they broke up in 2008.
In 2009, he announced on a German TV show he was engaged to Dutch model Sharlely "Lilly" Kerssenberg - his current wife.
He reportedly splashed out to marry Lilly at luxury Swiss resort St Moritz in 2009.
Becker's fourth child was born in 2010 in London, where he now lives for six months of the year.
His home, which is reportedly worth £5million, is just a stone's throw from the All-England Club in Wimbledon.
Since retiring from playing, the tennis ace has been a regular commentator and TV personality.
In 2013 he began coaching world number four Novak Djokovic, but the pair made a "mutual decision" to split in December.
Becker told Sky at the time: "It was mutual, a decision like this doesn’t happen overnight.
"The last six months have been challenging on many levels, the fact that he was winning his lifelong dream – the French Open – where he held four grand slams in a row, the first since 1969, naturally he wanted to spend more time with his family."
After the bankruptcy hearing, Becker said: "I was surprised and disappointed that Arbuthnot Latham chose to bring these proceedings against me.
"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 until this time was refused.
"My earnings are well publicised and it is clear that I have the means to repay this debt.
";The value of the asset in question far exceeds the debt owed to Arbuthnot Latham.
"I intend to make an application to have this order set aside immediately.
"In the meantime, I will concentrate on my work and in particular my presenting duties at Wimbledon for the BBC and other international outlets."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368