Boris Becker reveals shock and embarrassment over bankruptcy - BBC News

Boris Becker reveals shock and embarrassment over bankruptcy - BBC News: Becker%20said%20he%20felt%20%22very%20embarrassed%22%2C%20adding%3A%20%22Because%20it%20was%20all%20over%20world%20news%2C%20and%20I%20walked%20through%20the%20gate%20of%20Wimbledon%20and%20everyone%20knew.%20I%20was%20embarrassed%20because%20I%20was%20bankrupt.%22%0AHe%20told%20jurors%20the%20bankruptcy%20was%20also%20in%20the%20midst%20of%20a%20%22stressful%20time%22%20with%20his%20then%20wife%20Sharlely%20%22Lilly%22%20Becker%2C%20while%20they%20were%20living%20in%20%22separate%20quarters%22%20at%20a%20%A322%2C000-a-month%20rented%20house%20in%20Wimbledon%2C%20south-west%20London.%0ABecker%2C%20who%20arrived%20at%20court%20hand%20in%20hand%20with%20his%20partner%20Lilian%20de%20Carvalho%20Monteiro%2C%20sat%20at%20the%20witness%20box%20on%20Monday%20to%20give%20evidence%2C%20as%20the%20jury%20was%20told%20he%20has%20injuries%20to%20his%20ankle%20and%20knees.%0AHis%20barrister%2C%20Jonathan%20Laidlaw%20QC%2C%20took%20him%20through%20his%20career%20after%20he%20was%20catapulted%20to%20stardom%20when%20he%20became%20the%20youngest%20player%20to%20win%20the%20Wimbledon%20men%27s%20singles%20titles%2C%20aged%2017%2C%20in%201985.%0AThe%20court%20heard%20the%20former%20world%20number%20one%20earned%20a%20%22vast%20amount%22%20of%20money%2C%20winning%20about%20%2450%20million%20%28%A338m%29%20in%20prize%20money%20and%20sponsorship%20deals.%0AHe%20said%20he%20helped%20his%20parents%20build%20a%20house%20in%20his%20native%20Germany%20and%20paid%20cash%20for%20a%20family%20home%20in%20Munich%2C%20a%20property%20in%20Miami%2C%20Florida%2C%20and%20an%20estate%20in%20Mallorca%2C%20which%20was%20worth%20about%20%u20AC50%20million%20%28%A342m%29%20at%20the%20height%20of%20the%20property%20market.%0A%27Expensive%20divorce%27%0ABut%20Becker%2C%20who%20went%20on%20to%20coach%20current%20world%20number%20one%20tennis%20player%20Novak%20Djokovic%2C%20work%20as%20a%20BBC%20commentator%20and%20act%20as%20a%20brand%20ambassador%20for%20firms%20including%20Puma%2C%20said%20his%20earnings%20%22reduced%20dramatically%22%20following%20his%20retirement%20in%201999.%0AHe%20said%20he%20was%20involved%20in%20an%20%22expensive%20divorce%22%20from%20ex-wife%20Barbara%20Becker%20in%202001%2C%20involving%20high%20maintenance%20payments%20to%20their%20two%20sons%2C%20and%20had%20to%20support%20his%20daughter%20Anna%20Ermakova%20and%20her%20mother%2C%20in%20a%20deal%20which%20included%20a%20%A32.5m%20Chelsea%20flat.%0AGerman%20national%20Becker%2C%20who%20was%20resident%20in%20Monte%20Carlo%20and%20Switzerland%20before%20moving%20to%20the%20UK%20in%202012%2C%20said%20he%20had%20%22expensive%20lifestyle%20commitments%22%2C%20including%20millions%20owed%20to%20Swiss%20authorities%20as%20well%20as%20in%20Germany.%0AHe%20said%20the%20bankruptcy%20had%20restricted%20his%20ability%20to%20earn%20money%2C%20explaining%3A%20%22%5BIt%20is%5D%20very%20difficult%20when%20you%20are%20bankrupt%20and%20in%20the%20headlines%20every%20week%20for%20it.%20%5BIt%20is%5D%20very%20difficult%20to%20make%20a%20lot%20of%20money%20with%20my%20name.%22%0AThe%2024%20charges%20Mr%20Becker%20has%20been%20accused%20of%20include%3A%0ANine%20counts%20of%20failing%20to%20deliver%20up%20trophies%20and%20other%20awards%0ASeven%20counts%20of%20concealing%20property%20totalling%20more%20than%20%u20AC1.5m%0AFive%20counts%20of%20failing%20to%20disclose%20estate%2C%20including%20the%20properties%20in%20Germany%20and%20London%2C%20shares%20and%20a%20bank%20account%0ATwo%20of%20removal%20of%20property%20amounting%20to%20almost%20%u20AC500%2C000%0AOne%20of%20concealing%20%u20AC825%2C000%20of%20debt%0AThe%20trial%2C%20which%20is%20expected%20to%20last%20up%20to%20three%20weeks%2C%20continues.%0A