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He appeared at the inauguration in a red tracksuit: At the end of 2021, the first tennis hall of the planned “Boris Becker International Tennis Academy” was opened in Hochheim, Hesse – and the former tennis star took the opportunity to attend the celebrations. At that time he was still free, but Boris Becker has been in London’s Wandsworth prison since the end of April. The former exceptional athlete had not disclosed assets worth more than one million euros in his insolvency proceedings. A London court sentenced him to two and a half years in prison – half of which he will have to serve. In Hochheim, however, the three-time Wimbledon winner remains loyal.
Entrepreneur Khaled Ezzedine: “People love it when someone is loyal”
The Wiesbaden entrepreneur Khaled Ezzedine runs the tennis academy together with a partner. He confirmed to “Spiegel” that Boris Becker will continue to give his name to the tennis academy – despite his conviction and imprisonment. “People love it when someone is loyal and forgiving and when you don’t step on someone who’s already on the ground,” Ezzedine told Der Spiegel. He had already spoken to Becker’s lawyer, Christian-Oliver Moser. He confirmed the agreement to the “Spiegel”.
Tennis should become attractive again in Germany
The aim of the academy is to make tennis more popular in Germany and to build on the success of tennis pro Alexander Zverev – the youth should be encouraged accordingly. Even if there is already a lot of training going on in Hochheim, the tennis academy is far from finished. According to Ezzedine, in addition to the tennis hall that has already opened, 18 outdoor and 22 indoor courts, a hotel and a boarding school for up to 170 children are planned. The construction work on Germany’s largest tennis school should be completed by the end of 2024. (dpa/dgö)
