Becker is declared bankrupt

Boris Becker has been declared bankrupt – by a court official who watched him play on Centre Court.

Lawyers for the threetime Wimbledon winner pleaded with a Bankruptcy Court registrar in London for “a last chance” to pay a long-standing debt.

But Miss Registrar Christine Derrett, who recalled watching him play, said it was “with regret” she had concluded there was a lack of credible evidence that his “substantial” debt would be paid soon and she refused to adjourn the case for a further 28 days.

She announced after a brief hearing: “I make this bankruptcy order at 11.23am.”

She said of Becker, Wimbledon men’s singles champion in 1985, 1986 and 1989: “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 them by Becker dating as far back as 2015.

The 49-year-old 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 Majorca, which was expected to raise €6 million (£5.27m).

His advocate told the registrar his instructions from Becker were that it was expected the deal would be approved by a Spanish bank in approximately one month.