Tennis champion Boris Becker declared bankrupt

Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker says he is "surprised and disappointed" to be declared bankrupt.

In a High Court hearing, judge Miss Registrar Christine Derrett refused pleas from the tennis star’s lawyers for a "real last chance" to settle his debts.

They argued Becker was "not a sophisticated individual when it comes to finances".

But the judge, 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 refused to adjourn the case for a further 28 days.

She said the Wimbledon winner, who took the men’s singles title three times in the 1980s, gave the impression of "a man with his head in the sand".

"It is not often the case that a professional person has a judgment outstanding against them since October 2015," the judge said. "This is a historic debt."

But in a series of tweets, Mr Becker said: "My earnings are well publicised and it was clear that I have the means to repay this debt."

Private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co made the bankruptcy application following a previous judgment ordering Mr Becker to pay a debt owed to them since 2015.

The 49-year-old’s lawyers argued there was evidence to show the debts could be repaid by remortgaging a property in Majorca, which was expected to raise €6m (£5.27m).

Becker’s lawyer, John Briggs, told the registrar that bankruptcy would be detrimental to his image, to which she replied: "He should have thought about that a long time ago."

Mr Becker said he intended to make an application to have the order set aside.

(c) Sky News 2017: Tennis champion Boris Becker declared bankrupt