LONDON, June 21: Former German tennis star Boris Becker has been declared bankrupt by a court in London after failing to pay a �substantial� long-standing debt since 2015.
Laywers for the the three-time Wimbledon champion pleaded with a Bankruptcy Court registrar today to allow Becker a �last chance� to pay off the debt.
But Registrar Christine Derrett, who recalled watching Becker play on Centre Court, ruled there was a lack of credible evidence the outstanding payment would be forthcoming and refused to adjourn the case.
�One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand,� she said of the six-time major winner after making the bankruptcy order following a brief hearing.
The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co in connection with a judgment debt owed them by Becker dating back to 2015.
The German�s lawyers had argued there was sufficient evidence to show that he would be able to pay the debt soon through a refinancing arrangement, involving remortgaging a property in Mallorca, which was expected to raise six million euros ($6.7 million). � AFP
