Becker bankrupt

Former German tennis star Boris Becker was declared bankrupt by a court in London on Wednesday after failing to pay a "substantial" long-standing debt since 2015.

Lawyers for the three-time Wimbledon champion pleaded with a Bankruptcy Court registrar to allow Becker a "last chance" to pay off the debt.

But Registrar Christine Derrett, who recalled watching Becker play on Centre Court, ruled there was a lack of credible evidence the payment would be forthcoming and refused to adjourn the case.

"One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand," she said of the six-time major winner after making the bankruptcy order following a brief hearing.

The German's lawyers had argued there was sufficient evidence to show that he would be able to pay the debt soon through a refinancing arrangement, but the judge responded: "He should have thought about that a long time ago."