Boris Becker puts Wimbledon trophy up for auction to pay off bankruptcy debts

Boris Becker has been left with no option but to sell some of his most prized possessions, as a bitter divorce battle with his ex-wife leaves him facing bankruptcy.

The three-time Wimbledon winner, is auctioning off items including his 1985 Wimbledon replica trophy.

Preparing for a financial settlement with his ex-wife Lilly, he has already flogged 82 lots of memorabilia.

The tennis legend and his 42-year-old ex, are embroiled in a family court dispute over money, following the breakdown of their marriage after he was declared bankrupt in 2017.

Becker, who is now dating British model Layla Powell, also battled with his ex in a family court over their nine-year-old son.

The pair said in May they were ‘delighted’ to have reached an arrangement.

The former husband and wife declared a truce in December last year over who was divorcing whom.

Both had accused each other of ‘unreasonable behaviour’, and issued divorce petitions in October.

Some of the items on sale include a watch Novak Djokovic gifted him, as well as a certificate commemorating Becker’s men’s doubles gold medal win with Michael Stich in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

The prized possessions are on sale with Wyles Hardy & Co, who began the auction on June 24, when Becker dropped his claim and proceeded with the sale.

Also among the lots, is a US Open trophy awarded for his victory over Ivan Lendl in 1989, which could fetch upwards of £200,000.

The first planned sale had to be postponed after Becker claimed that his appointment by the Central African Republic as a sporting, cultural and humanitarian attaché to the European Union, meant he could not be subjected to legal proceedings.

A statement from Mark Ford, a trustee of Becker’s bankruptcy estate, said: ‘We are pleased that the auction can now be resumed, as these assets are one of the few remaining assets of the bankruptcy, and we anticipate declaring a dividend to creditors later this year.

‘We hope and expect the sale will create the same level of excitement as it did last year, as this is a rare opportunity for tennis fans to acquire memorabilia of this kind.’

Becker won Wimbledon and became the youngest men’s singles champion in 1985 at the age of 17.

In a career spanning more than two decades, he collected 49 singles titles.