Boris Becker has confirmed that he is complying with the UK authorities with a view to returning to Wimbledon next year.
The former World No. 1 endured the ignominy of becoming a high-profile tennis player to serve a prison sentence in 2022. He declared bankruptcy in 2017 but did not disclose details of hidden assets and loans worth £2.5 million.
The German great was convicted of four charges under the Insolvency Act and was sentenced to two and half years in a British jail. He served eight months before he was freed and deported.
The 56-year-old has since managed to get his life together and found his voice in tennis punditry. He was involved in an online spat with injured Australian Nick Kyrgios, who mocked Becker’s criminal conviction. The pair have since buried the hatchet.
But the six-time Grand Slam champion is keen to forget his chilling experience, which he previously described as “fighting every day for survival.”
Under the terms of his early release, Becker is barred from entering the UK until October 2024. That means he will definitely miss out on commentating at Wimbledon this year.
However, Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach recently revealed that he has initiated talks and is currently completing the paperwork required to ensure his re-entry into the UK by 2025.
In an interview at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Becker referred to Wimbledon as part of his life and in his DNA. He famously won the tournament as a 17-year-old in 1985, setting the record for the youngest men’s singles champion.
“We’re working on 2025. It’s a part of my life. It’s in my DNA, you can’t deny that.”
