Boris Becker will not make BBC return at Wimbledon amid UK travel ban

04 January 2023 , 10:01

1194     0

Boris Becker will not be part of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage

Disgraced tennis star Boris Becker will not be part of the BBC's coverage of Wimbledon as he is banned from entering the UK.

Becker, 55, was freed just before Christmas after an eight-month stint in a UK prison and was deported to his native Germany.

The three-time Wimbledon champion had been sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment over bankruptcy-related offences in April.

But he was released over the festive period under a 'fast track' scheme as he qualified for automatic deportation to return to Germany with criminals sent back to their native country early to ease pressure on Britain's prison service.

And Becker, who had lived in the UK since 2012, has already landed his first tennis commentary role as he is set to return to the Eurosport team for the Australian Open next month.

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

Becker will help lead the Eurosport coverage from a studio in Munich after signing a deal to work as a pundit and commentator on the first Grand Slam of the year at Melbourne Park.

However, any hopes of reassuming to the BBC punditry role that he first started in 2002 appear to be over as he is banned from entering the UK ahead of Wimbledon this summer.

Becker is forbidden re-entry after his early deportation barred him from the UK for an undetermined period.

As a result, he will not be seen on TV screens at the All England Club this summer with the BBC dropping the star from their coverage for the tournament from July 3-16.

Becker has been axed from BBC's Wimbledon coverage (MDM)

Six-time Grand Slam champion Becker recently reflected on a testing 2022 with a New Year message to his fans.

"I call this the most difficult year of my life," he said, appearing on an Instagram video recorded on a beach. "But it's done, it's dusted. I came out alive - I think I came out stronger. I think my mental health is better than ever.”

Becker had previously given a detailed account of his prison nightmare to German broadcaster Sat 1. "I wasn’t called Boris, I was a number. And nobody gives a s*** who you are," he recalled.

"I’ve learnt a hard lesson. A very expensive one. A very painful one. But the whole thing has taught me something very important and worthwhile. And some things happen for a good reason.”

Ben Parsons