In the sport of tennis, no tournament is more iconic than Wimbledon. Winning the legendary championship just once is the dream of almost every player who sets foot on a court.

To lift a trophy at SW19 on multiple occasions is even more difficult. When it comes to the gentleman’s singles title, only 16 men have won the championship three or more times in the 149-year history of the event. Even British tennis legend, Andy Murray, has only won the coveted title twice.

However, one member of that select group to have won Wimbledon on three or more occasions is now banned from the UK and unable to visit the tournament where he once made history.

Three-Time Wimbledon Winner Currently Banned From Tournament That Made Him Famous

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

At the age of just 17 years and 227 days, Boris Becker became the youngest man ever to win Wimbledon in 1985. He retained his title the following year, before claiming it for a third time in 1989.

Over the years, Becker’s legend grew as he became synonymous with the tournament. He later carved out a yearly role as an analyst for the BBC’s coverage of the event.

Becker’s world, though, would come crashing down around him in 2022, when he was jailed for two-and-a-half years for hiding £2.5 million worth of assets to avoid paying debts after he was declared bankrupt.

The 58-year-old only served eight months of that sentence, but was immediately deported from the UK after his release. As a result of his deportation, Becker is now banned from the UK, although the German is currently in the process of appealing that sanction.

‘I Miss Wimbledon’ – Banned Player Desperate to Return to SW19

Susan Mullane via Reuters

Reflecting on his time in prison during a recent interview with The Telegraph, Becker described how the experience had changed him as a person.

“When you are incarcerated, you literally lose everything,” he admitted. “All that is left is your personality, your character. So you have to dig down inside to ask, ‘OK, who am I? Is this going to kill me, or is this going to make me stronger?’”

Becker went on to admit how much his ban from Wimbledon hurt him, describing the venue as his ‘birthplace’.

“I don’t think I miss London, but I miss Wimbledon,” he declared. “It’s my birthplace, in a sense.

“I feel so close to the club, to the courts. I have a story on every court, in every corner, in the locker room, in the car park. I probably know Wimbledon better than anyone else alive.”

Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes have claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people, with almost 70,000 reported missing by Saturday morning.

The South American country was hit with 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes on Wednesday, causing complete devastation. Among the fatalities were family members of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo.

Trejo, who plays for Venezuelan second-tier club Marítimo, was hoping for good news regarding his loved ones after a heartbreaking 74-hour search.

Lucas Trejo Loses Wife and Children in Earthquake Devastation

His wife, Yanina Maranella, and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa, were found dead on June 27. Trejo has yet to comment publicly on the matter, but had posted an image of his family on Instagram just hours before they were found.

His club confirmed the tragic news in a statement. It read: “Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira deeply mourns the loss suffered by Lucas Trejo’s family; we ask for respect for his relatives and teammates. After a 74-hour search, they were found deceased.”

Edson Tortolero, a friend of the family and Venezuelan footballer, also posted about the tragedy on social media. In a translated Instagram post, he said (per New York Post):

Trejo’s dad and brother had reportedly travelled to Venezuela to try and help the search for his wife and kids. Yiimvert Berroteran, an 18-year-old aspiring footballer, was another fatality.

Wife of Baseball Player Dies in Earthquake

Gorkys Hernandez, a former Venezuelan baseball player, also suffered the heartbreak of losing his wife in the disaster. The ex-Major League Baseball star posted an emotional statement, in which he said:

“You were and are the most beautiful woman in my life. You will always be with me, at every hour and in every moment. Fly high, my princess, my queen. May God have you in his glory and guide me to keep going and lift up our family.”

Up to 6.76 million people could be affected, according to the International Organisation for Migration. Two million of those are in Caracas, the capital.

Chelsea will look to make moves in the summer transfer window to hand Xabi Alonso the perfect squad to challenge at the top of the Premier League table next season.

Alonso has arrived at Stamford Bridge following a tumultuous campaign in west London, with the Blues finishing 10th in the table, failing to qualify for European competition and sacking two managers in the process.

Alonso will be tasked with steadying the ship and improving the Blues‘ fortunes on the pitch, much like he did with Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German side to an unbeaten season in claiming the domestic double in 2023/24.

Palestra may be joined by Granit Xhaka

The signing of a number of talented youngsters have already been agreed, prior to Alonso arriving at the club, but Chelsea have yet to announce a first signing of the Spaniard’s tenure, although a deal to sign Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra is understood to be close.

The 21-year-old will become Alonso’s first signing at Stamford Bridge, but he is already working on a second and it may come as something of a surprise.

The Blues have made a move to sign 34-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka – who made his name in the English Premier League with Chelsea’s rivals Arsenal – from Sunderland.

Xhaka made the move to the Black Cats just last year having been part of that Leverkusen side under Alonso. And GIVEMESPORT understands he now wants to reunite with his former boss in west London.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano explained more about the potential move. He said: “Chelsea have started the conversations to understand how to try and get the deal done with Sunderland for Granit Xhaka and the agreement between Chelsea and Xhaka on the contract is not a problem.

“Xhaka told Chelsea in a very clear way he wants to go back to London, he wants to live in London, he wants to play for Chelsea, he wants to play for Xabi Alonso. So the connections are all going in that direction now. It’s about reaching an agreement between clubs.

Sunderland were planning for next season with Xhaka

“Sunderland are quite surprised. Sunderland were not expecting Granit Xhaka to inform them that he wanted to leave. They were building the squad for next season, believing that Granit Xhaka was going to be a crucial part of the team, but now Xhaka wants to go to Chelsea.

“Sunderland insist they don’t want to sell, they want big money eventually, if there is a chance to open doors, but what I can tell you is that Chelsea are playing down reports about paying €30million or €40million for Granit Xhaka.

“Chelsea’s position would be to pay less in order to reach an agreement with Xhaka, not because the player is not worth that money, but because of the age. So now it’s on the club-to-club, because on the player’s side he’s ready to accept any contract condition, and it’s not a problem. I told you already, personal terms will not be an issue, he wants to play for Xabi Alonso. He wants to play London, and he wants to play for Chelsea.”