Novak Djokovic has pledged his continued support to tennis legend Boris Becker and his family, who are currently in prison.
The Serbian defending champion said he was happy that Becker’s girlfriend Lillian de Carvalho Monteiro and son Noah had been guests in his spectator box at his previous games at the classic lawn. “I try to support the people around him, his family members, because I really see Boris as a family member, someone I value, respect and like.”
Becker had trained Djokovic for three successful years. “Our relationship goes back even further. We’ve always stayed in close contact, he with my team, my advisors, my family,” said 35-year-old Djokovic. Noah Becker and de Carvalho Monteiro were in the stands in Djokovic’s 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round. Djokovic reported that Noah and his younger brother Elias would visit their father in prison in the coming days.
At the end of April, Becker was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Southwark Crown Court in London, the second half of which is expected to be suspended. He had concealed assets worth millions from his insolvency administrators. Becker is now in Huntercombe prison in Nuffield, around 70 kilometers west of his adopted home of London.
“It breaks my heart to see what is happening to him. I can only imagine how difficult it is for his family members,” said Djokovic. “Of course it’s a small gesture of friendship to invite her.”