World number one Novak Djokovic has claimed he was heartbroken to see former coach and tennis legend Boris Becker jailed before the weekend.
After being found guilty of concealing assets and loans worth around $3 million in a 2017 bankruptcy, 54-year-old Becker was put behind bars for two-and-a-half years in the UK on Friday and must serve at least a year-and-a-half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Coached by the German from 2014 to 2016 and for six of his 20 grand slams wins, Djokovic knows Becker well and reacted to his legal woes this weekend ahead of the Madrid Open.
“I am just heartbroken for him,” said Djokovic to reporters. “He’s a friend, [a] long-time friend, a coach for three, four years. Someone I consider close in my life and [someone who] has contributed a lot to my success in my career.”