BERLIN: Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker is optimistic he will avoid being judged liable for 1.5 million euros ($1.92 million) in losses following the collapse of his Internet sports portal, his lawyers said.
Germany's Federal Court earlier this week annulled a ruling by a lower court in Munich that Becker, 38, was not liable for the sum following the failure of the Sportgate portal, opening the way for a new trial.
The website was supposed to be the portal for the German Sports Federation, but the company filed for insolvency in 2001.
The administrator has said that Becker, who was a majority stakeholder in the company, had promised to pay 1.5 million euros to cover the firm's losses — a charge Becker has denied.
As it was up to the insolvency administrators to bring the burden of proof in the case, "Mr Becker regards the continuation of proceedings optimistically", his lawyers said in a statement on Tuesday. — Reuters
Profile--------------- Boris Becker
West GermanyDATE OF BIRTHWednesday, 22nd November 1967PLACE OF BIRTHLeimen, GermanyRECORD IN GRAND SLAMSAustralian: Winner 1991, 1996. Quarterfinal 1984, 1990. French: Semifinal 1987, 1989, 1991. Quarterfinal 1986. Wimbledon: Winner 1985, 1986, 1989. Runner-up 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995. Semifinal 1993, 1994. Quarterfinal 1992, 1997. U.S.: Winner 1989. Semifinal 1986, 1990, 1995.
IVAN LENDL beat DAN GOLDIE 7-6, 7-6, 6-0
BORIS BECKER beat PAUL CHAMBERLIN 6-1, 6-2, 6-0
JOHN McENROE beat MATS WILANDER 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
STEFAN EDBERG beat TIM MAYOTTE 7-6, 7-6, 6-3
SEMIFINALS
BORIS BECKER beat IVAN LENDL 7-5, 6-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
STEFAN EDBERG beat JOHN McENROE 7-5, 7-6, 7-6
FINAL
BORIS BECKER beat STEFAN EDBERG 6-0, 7-6, 6-4
QUARTERFINALS. U.S. OPEN 1989
IVAN LENDL beat TIM MAYOTTE 6-4, 6-0, 6-1
ANDRE AGASSI beat JIMMY CONNORS 6-1, 4-6, 0-6, 6-3
AARON KRICKSTEIN beat JAY BERGER 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 (ret.)
BORIS BECKER beat YANNICK NOAH 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
SEMIFINALS
IVAN LENDL beat ANDRE AGASSI 7-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1
BORIS BECKER beat AARON KRICKSTEIN 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
FINAL
BORIS BECKER beat IVAN LENDL 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6
Germany's Federal Court earlier this week annulled a ruling by a lower court in Munich that Becker, 38, was not liable for the sum following the failure of the Sportgate portal, opening the way for a new trial.
The website was supposed to be the portal for the German Sports Federation, but the company filed for insolvency in 2001.
The administrator has said that Becker, who was a majority stakeholder in the company, had promised to pay 1.5 million euros to cover the firm's losses — a charge Becker has denied.
As it was up to the insolvency administrators to bring the burden of proof in the case, "Mr Becker regards the continuation of proceedings optimistically", his lawyers said in a statement on Tuesday. — Reuters
Profile--------------- Boris Becker
West GermanyDATE OF BIRTHWednesday, 22nd November 1967PLACE OF BIRTHLeimen, GermanyRECORD IN GRAND SLAMSAustralian: Winner 1991, 1996. Quarterfinal 1984, 1990. French: Semifinal 1987, 1989, 1991. Quarterfinal 1986. Wimbledon: Winner 1985, 1986, 1989. Runner-up 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995. Semifinal 1993, 1994. Quarterfinal 1992, 1997. U.S.: Winner 1989. Semifinal 1986, 1990, 1995.
RECORD DURING: 1989. Wimbledon (Winner) & U.S. Open (Winner)
QUARTERFINALS. WIMBLEDON 1989 IVAN LENDL beat DAN GOLDIE 7-6, 7-6, 6-0
BORIS BECKER beat PAUL CHAMBERLIN 6-1, 6-2, 6-0
JOHN McENROE beat MATS WILANDER 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
STEFAN EDBERG beat TIM MAYOTTE 7-6, 7-6, 6-3
SEMIFINALS
BORIS BECKER beat IVAN LENDL 7-5, 6-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
STEFAN EDBERG beat JOHN McENROE 7-5, 7-6, 7-6
FINAL
BORIS BECKER beat STEFAN EDBERG 6-0, 7-6, 6-4
QUARTERFINALS. U.S. OPEN 1989
IVAN LENDL beat TIM MAYOTTE 6-4, 6-0, 6-1
ANDRE AGASSI beat JIMMY CONNORS 6-1, 4-6, 0-6, 6-3
AARON KRICKSTEIN beat JAY BERGER 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 (ret.)
BORIS BECKER beat YANNICK NOAH 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
SEMIFINALS
IVAN LENDL beat ANDRE AGASSI 7-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1
BORIS BECKER beat AARON KRICKSTEIN 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
FINAL
BORIS BECKER beat IVAN LENDL 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6
