Boris Becker appeals for help to find lost grand slam trophies

German tennis hero, who was declared bankrupt, concedes five of the six trophies are missing

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 15:  Former Australian Open Champions Boris Becker of Germany and Billie Jean King of the USA arrive with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and Norman Brookes Challenge Cup on day one of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 15, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
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Bankrupt former tennis star Boris Becker on Wednesday appealed for help in tracking down five missing grand slam trophies which he needs to sell to help pay off his debts.

The German shook up the tennis world at Wimbledon in 1985 when, as an unseeded player, he became the then youngest-ever male grand slam champion at the age of 17, defending the trophy the following year.

Becker, 50, went on to win six grand slam trophies in a glittering career and reached world No 1, amassing more than US$25 million (Dh91.81m) in prize money.

But the German, who coached former world No 1 Novak Djokovic to multiple grand slam titles, was declared bankrupt by a court in London last year.

His London-based bankruptcy trustees said in a statement issued on Wednesday that Becker had helped collect some of the trophies and other memorabilia that he amassed during his career.

Boris Becker was just 17 years old when he won his first Wimbledon men's singles title in 1985. Bob Thomas / Getty Images
Boris Becker was just 17 years old when he won his first Wimbledon men's singles title in 1985. Bob Thomas / Getty Images

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But the trustees added: "A number of the trophies of Mr Becker’s career are unaccounted for as Mr Becker is unable to recollect where they are located."

The statement said the All England Tennis Club, which hosts Wimbledon, the German Tennis Federation, the US Tennis Association, Tennis Australia and the International Tennis Hall of Fame, do not appear to have the missing trophies.

"Mr Becker and his bankruptcy trustees are therefore issuing a joint appeal to the public for any information that may assist with locating Mr Becker’s missing trophies, which include the trophies for his victories at the Australian Open [1991 and 1996] and Wimbledon [1985, 1986, 1989; The President’s Challenge Cup 1985 and 1989; The Renshaw Cup 1989]."

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the joint trustees via email at BBEnquiries@smithandwilliamson.com.