By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters). Boris Becker was a formidable speaker who won the Wimbledon title in 1985 at 17 years old. However, he was sentenced to time behind bars on Friday. The German icon is 54 years old.

The man who was three times champion on south-west London’s grass courts won a sentence of two and a half years in prison.

Becker was found guilty earlier in the month of four offences under Britain’s Insolvency Act. These included failing to disclose or conceal significant assets after a bankruptcy trial.

Judge Deborah Taylor stated that the winner of six Grand Slams had not shown any remorse nor accepted guilt. He would serve the half-term behind bars, and then the rest on license.

Becker was awarded a suspension of sentence and heavy fine by the Munich court for tax evasion in 2002. He earned $22.5 million in prize money, as well as a lot more through sponsorship.

It was impossible to escape this time.

It was just the latest revelation in the lives of an athlete superstar. His love life and financial troubles have been as big a news story as his athletic achievements.

Many of his assets disappeared due to his tax problems. However, he maintained a luxurious lifestyle, dubious investments, and a multimillion-dollar divorce settlement with Barbara in 2001.

After a brief encounter at Nobu in London, Angela Ermakova was asked to have a sex with him. Angela Ermakova was his second wife.

He contrasts the tidiness of his life post-playing as a BBC tennis commentator and coach to Novak Djokovic’s world number one, with the chaos in his private affairs.

He claimed diplomat immunity in bankruptcy proceedings, claiming that he was a sports envoy for the European Union for Central African Republic.

Becker, who had not been to India before, later stated that it was a fake passport and initiated an investigation.

Becker’s court performance was nothing short of spectacular. As a youngster, Becker became the first German player and the unseeded to win Wimbledon Singles. He defeated Kevin Curren, a South African, in just four sets.

Becker won the title of champion against Ivan Lendl with his bubbling enthusiasm in 1986.

They played one another 21 times between the 1980s & early 1990s. There was always friction under their playing.

Lendl won their rivalry by 11-10, but Becker took home the Grand Slam finals. Becker was once accused of being not mentally tough.

Becker lost to Stefan Edberg of Sweden in the 1988 Wimbledon final. Becker reacted to that defeat in 1988, and lost in the rematch. He then lost in 1990 to Edberg.

He reached the fourth consecutive Wimbledon final in 1991, but was defeated by compatriot Michael Stich.

Becker won also the U.S. Open 1989, the Australian Open 1991 and became the world number one in 1996.

With a record of 49 singles and 15 doubles wins, he retired. However clay was his weakness. He did however win the 1992 Olympic Men’s Doubles Gold in Barcelona.