Berlin (DPA)
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has expressed his hope that former German tennis star Boris Becker will be able to return to his normal life once his prison sentence is over.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Baker has been jailed for up to two and a half years on several counts of violating UK bankruptcy laws.
Becker, 54, declared bankruptcy in 2017, but it was found that he hid assets and loans to avoid paying his debts, which are estimated at 50 million pounds ($63 million). Becker previously trained Djokovic during the beginning of his career.
“My heart is broken for him, he is a friend, an old friend, my coach for three or four years, someone I consider close in my life, he has contributed a lot to my success during my career,” Djokovic told a news conference.
He added, “I just feel sad, I don’t know what to say more than that, I will not go into the details of the ruling, because I am not in a position to do so, but as a friend of his, I am very sad for him and there is nothing to say, and I only hope that he will pass this period that must be That he’s in prison and that when he gets out he’s able to live his life, I don’t know if you can use the word normal, because his life will certainly change, for anyone who goes to prison, especially in connection with that long.”
Djokovic concluded by saying, “So I don’t know how it will go for him, I’m just praying for him, I hope things will be fine in terms of his health and his mental health, because that will probably be the most challenging part.”