disgraced
Boris Becker ‘watches Wimbledon from prison’ as John McEnroe and Sue Barker send on-air support and Novak Djokovic makes gesture to former champion
Disgraced tennis legend Boris Becker was not far from the thoughts those at Wimbledon on the opening day of the 2022 tournament.
Becker was jailed for two-and-a-half years for hiding millions of pounds worth of assets after being declared bankrupt.
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It was a dramatic fall from grace for the three-time Wimbledon champion, who won it as a 17-year-old back in 1985.
Becker is serving his sentence in HMP Huntercombe and, , he will be allowed to watch the Championships from his cell.
If he was watching, then he would have seen the messages of support from BBC hosts Sue Barker and John McEnroe.
McEnroe said: “Boris, we love you. We miss you, man.”
Barker replied: “We do, indeed. Well said.”
Becker has been a mainstay of the BBC’s live television coverage for many years and perhaps unsurprising that his absence was noted, although the comments drew condemnation.
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It comes after McEnroe said he would go and visit Becker in prison during the tournament.
“Boris is a friend of mine. This is just horrible. I want to see him if I possibly can and if he’s willing to see people,” he said.
“I just feel terrible. He’s one of the great players that has ever played the game, and I know it meant a lot to Boris. He’s been going through a lot for a long time.”
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There were more moments of respect towards Becker with his girlfriend, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, and son Noah sitting in Novak Djokovic’s box during his first round victory.
The six-time Grand Slam winner has a strong connection to Djokovic, coaching him between 2013 and 2016 where he won six Grand Slam titles.
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