After supporting Boris Becker, who was in jail at the time of their support live on-air, Sue Barker (British tennis icon) and John McEnroe (American tennis legend) have received a lot of flak from viewers.
McEnroe, the seven-time Grand Slam Champion, spoke during Monday’s BBC Wimbledon coverage, saying: ‘Boris. We love you. We miss you, man.’
Barker added that she is now anchoring coverage.
Becker, 54, was jailed for two years and six months at London’s Southwark Crown Court on April 29 after being found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act.
The German-born player was found guilty of hiding £2.5million worth of assets and loans to avoid paying off debts after he was declared bankrupt in 2017 to allegedly stop sums from being distributed to creditors.
Boris was part of the coverage at Wimbledon with the BBC last year, but now, he is serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence at Huntercombe prison, near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Earlier this month, BBC viewers have slammed commentator Andrew Castle after he told disgraced tennis star Boris Becker live on air that they were ‘looking forward to welcoming you back’.
Castle (58), a former tennis player, made this comment on BBC’s coverage of Friday’s Queen’s Clubs Championships.
He said: ‘I’ve had a real moment of missing Boris. I know he’s in prison and I know why. We look forward to seeing you when Boris returns.
McEnroe said last week that he planned to visit Becker while he is in the UK for this tournament.
He stated that Boris was a good friend. It is absolutely horrible. I want to see him if I possibly can and if he’s willing to see people.
“I feel horrible. He’s one of the great players that has ever played the game, and I know it meant a lot to Boris. He’s been going through a lot for a long time.’
Boris’s earlier trial heard how he had been legally obliged to disclose all of his assets to help pay off his debts of nearly £50milion.
Becker was found guilty by the jury of removing property and two counts each of failing to disclose estate or concealing debt.
McEnroe, the seven-time Grand Slam Champion, spoke during Monday’s BBC Wimbledon coverage, saying: ‘Boris. We love you. We miss you, man.’ Barker added that Barker is now anchoring the coverage.
Becker, 54, was jailed for two years and six months at London ’s Southwark Crown Court on April 29 after being found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act
They cleared him from 20 additional charges, which include nine counts for failing to turn over his tennis medals and trophies.
The jury found he had made £390,000 worth of payments from his business account following his bankruptcy to nine others, including his ex-wife Barbara and estranged wife Sharlely ‘Lilly’ Becker, the mother of his fourth child.
Becker, who has lived in London since 2012, was also convicted of failing to declare his share in a sprawling £1m property in his German hometown of Leimen, and hiding a bank loan of almost £700,000 on the house.
The fourth charge related to not revealing his shares in a technology firm Breaking Data Corp valued at £66,000.
Boris Becker’s girlfriend Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro and his eldest son Noah cheered on Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon on Monday, in their first appearance together since the former world number 1 was jailed.
Boris Becker with Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, his girlfriend at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro, (top right), sits with Noah Becker at Novak Djokovic’s Box at Centre Court. This was their first public appearance since Boris Becker’s trial.
Carvalho Monteiro (in her 40s) appeared beside her son, 28-years-old, as they sat together in Djokovic’s box at Centre Court. This was the first day for the tournament. He played against South Korean Soonwoo, Kwon.
She was a political risk analyst and speaks five languages. He was also educated at three universities.
Lilian was a supporter of her son Noah alongside Becker during the trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Lillian, who was born in the African island state of São Tomé and Príncipe, reportedly blew her beau a goodbye kiss as he was led out of the courtroom following his sentencing.
Becker was sentenced and his girlfriend visited him at HMP Wandsworth.
MailOnline reached out the BBC for comments.