Novak Djokovic has pledged his continued support to currently imprisoned tennis legend Boris Becker and his family.
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 during his previous matches at the grass-court classic. “I try to support the people around him, his family members, because I really consider Boris a family member, someone I appreciate, respect and like.”
Becker had coached Djokovic for three successful years. “Our relationship goes back even further. We have always stayed in close contact, he with my team, my advisors, my family,” the 35-year-old Djokovic said. Noah Becker and de Carvalho Monteiro sat in the stands for Djokovic’s 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over 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.
Becker had been sentenced at London’s Southwark Crown Court at the end of April to two and a half years in prison, 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, some 70 kilometres west of his adopted home in London.
“It breaks my heart to see what is happening to him. I can only imagine how hard it is for his family members,” Djokovic said. “Of course it’s a small gesture of friendship to invite them. “
