Boris Becker has to go to prison: Djokovic "shaken" - Zverev sends wishes to tennis legend
Created: 05/03/2022, 08:49
By: Felix Durach
Boris Becker was sentenced to prison.
His ex Lilly and daughter Anna were shocked by the verdict.
Alexander Zverev also reacts.
Boris Becker has to go to prison: the German tennis legend was sentenced.
Lilly Becker is shocked: Boris Becker's ex-wife spoke publicly.
Tennis star Alexander Zverev sends wishes to Becker.
This news ticker is continuously updated.
Update from May 1, 7:21 p.m .:
Novak Djokovic, the current leader in the tennis world rankings, was dismayed by the prison sentence against his former coach Boris Becker.
He was "shocked," the Serb told journalists in Madrid on Sunday.
Becker was Djokovic's coach for around three years between 2013 and 2016.
The 34-year-old said he didn't want to comment on the verdict, but stressed: "It broke my heart.
He's a longtime friend, he was my coach for three years, he's someone close to me and who has contributed a lot to my success." Djokovic said he hopes Becker survives the prison sentence "without any consequences for his mental health and can get on with his life again.”
Boris Becker was Novak Djokovic's coach for around three years.
(Archive image) © Darren England/dpa
Boris Becker has to go to prison: Alexander Zverev sends wishes to tennis legend
Update from May 1st, 8:09 a.m .:
Boris Becker has to go to prison.
The German tennis legend received a lot of encouragement after his conviction.
"I'm sorry for Boris," said former football manager Reiner Calmund in "Bild".
“Boris survived the toughest matches.
I wish him that he also masters this time. "The German Tennis Association (DTB) wants to continue to stand by the three-time Wimbledon winner: "We take note of the judgment with respect and regret and wish him all the best for the near future." said Association President Dietloff von Arnim on Friday in Munich.
"We stand by his side."
Becker had previously been sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a London court for several bankruptcy offences.
The 54-year-old must serve half of that before being allowed to spend the rest on parole, Southwark Crown Court Judge Deborah Taylor ruled.
Becker was immediately taken into custody on Friday.
He now has 28 days to appeal the verdict.
Boris Becker: Reactions to the conviction
We have summarized further reactions from Germany:
"Boris Becker was everyone's idol.
Regardless of whether you could do something with tennis or not, you dealt with it.
He was literally lifted into the sky - and now the fall into infinity." - Fashion designer Harald Glööckler in the "Bild".
"Boris Becker has been an integral part of the German tennis family for decades.
His merits are and will remain unique.” - DTB President Dietloff von Arnim.
"He turned tennis Germany into tennis Germany with his performance." - tennis player Oscar Otte
"Boris was and is very important for German tennis.
That's sad to hear.
I wish him the best." - Tennis player Alexander Zverev to "t-online".
"Right and consistent under the rule of law.
A tragedy in terms of sports history." - Baden-Württemberg's finance minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens)
Two of the most important names in German tennis: Alexander Zverev (left) and Boris Becker - a picture from 2020. © AAP / Imago
"He didn't kill anyone": Lilly Becker shocked by punishment for Boris
First report from April 30, 12:12 p.m .:
London – The punishment for the three-time Wimbledon winner had become apparent and yet the announcement of the sentence on Friday afternoon by the responsible judge in London shocked large parts of the Federal Republic: Boris Becker has to go to prison.
The 54-year-old was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for multiple offenses related to his bankruptcy proceedings.
The former tennis star has to serve at least half of them behind bars before he can be released on parole.
Although Becker still has the opportunity to appeal against the verdict, he has already been taken into custody by the British judiciary.
Boris Becker has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison by Southwark Crown Court in London.
© Frank Augstein/dpa
Boris Becker: wife Lilly Becker shocked by prison sentence
In addition to fans and supporters of the six-time Grand Slam champion, numerous companions of Becker also spoke after the verdict.
Including Lilly Becker, with whom the 54-year-old has been married since 2009.
Lilly Becker, who has lived separately from Boris Becker since the couple separated in 2018, was surprised by the sharpness of the judgment in an interview with the RTL format "Exclusive Weekend".
"He didn't kill anyone," said the 45-year-old, referring to the sentence.
However, the former tennis star's blended family would continue to have his full support.
"It is important that each person knows that we, Amadeus, Noah, Elias, Barbara, his girlfriend Liliana, we all stand behind Boris," Lilly Becker continued.
Lilly Becker (here recording a TV show in 2017) was shocked by Boris Becker's prison sentence.
© Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
Prison sentence for Boris Becker: daughter Anna Ermakova - "I'm really in shock"
Boris Becker's daughter Anna Ermakova, who came from a short relationship with Angela Ermakova, was visibly shocked by her father's prison sentence.
"I'm really in shock that my father was sentenced to two years and six months," said the 22-year-old to the
picture
.
"I helped as best I could.
I have written a letter to the court to express my concern for my little half-brother, Amadeus.
After all, he is only twelve and will now have to do without a father figure, which he will lack in a difficult phase of his development.
It's not fair to him.
It will be tough for Amadeus," Ermakowa continued.
But just like her half-brother's mother, Anna Ermakowa still stands behind Boris Becker and wants to support her father even in his most difficult times.
Among other things, she wants to visit him in prison as often as she can and thus help him get through the time.
After his bankruptcy in 2017, Boris Becker is said to have transferred even larger sums of money and failed to comply with his information obligations in other areas.
The 54-year-old would be found guilty of four out of 24 charges.
(fd)
