MY ACCOUNT
Novak Djokovic hopes Boris Becker is able to live a relatively normal life once the six-time grand slam champion has served his prison sentence.
Becker, who became the youngest ever male major singles champion when he won Wimbledon in 1985, was sentenced last week after being found guilty of four charges relating to violations of the United Kingdom Insolvency Act.
The 54-year-old declared bankruptcy in 2017 but was found to have hidden assets and loans in order to avoid paying his debts, which amounted to around £50million.
Becker coached Djokovic earlier in the Serbian’s career and the world number one is shattered for the German.
“Heartbroken for him,” Djokovic told a news conference ahead of the Madrid Open.
“He is a friend, a long-time friend, a coach for three, four years. Someone I consider close in my life, he has contributed a lot to my success in my career.
“I was just heartbroken. I don’t know what to say more than that. It’s [not] getting into details of the verdict, because I’m not in a position to do that, but as his friend, super sad for him and there’s not much that you can say.
“I just hope that he will go through this period that he has to be in jail and that when he comes out he’s being able to live his life as, I don’t know if you can use the word normal, because his life is definitely changing. For anybody going to prison, especially for that long of a time.
“So I don’t know how things will turn out for him. I just pray for him. I hope things will be well in terms of his health, his mental health, because that’s probably going to be the most challenging part.”
Former world number one Andy Murray, however, has little sympathy for Becker.
“I feel sorry that he’s in that situation, but I also feel sorry for the people that he’s affected with his decisions as well and what’s happened to them,” said Murray. who faces Dominic Thiem in his opening match in Madrid.
“I hope he’s okay and that he learns from his mistakes. But I didn’t have a particular emotion about it.”
