Becker Faces a Taxing Time

Three-times Wimbledon champion Boris Becker will stand trial next month on tax evasion charges, the state prosecutor investigating the case said today.

"The charges have been admitted to court without modifications," Munich prosecutor Matthias Musiol said, denying earlier reports in the German press that Becker had agreed a settlement and would pay back taxes to avoid prosecution.

Prosecutors accuse Becker of witholding taxes from German authorities between 1991 and 1993. They allege that early in his career he told them his residence was in Monaco, a tax haven, while he was in fact living in Munich.

Becker's lawyers said last year that the Munich tax inspectorate has asked their client to pay 12 million euros.

The 34-year-old Becker faces a suspended jail term of up to two years if convicted. His trial is scheduled to take place from October 23 to 25 in Munich.

The former world No1 has been through hard times since retiring from competitive tennis three years ago.

The player, who became the youngest Wimbledon's men's champion in 1985, aged 17 years seven months, has lost much of his fortune following a costly divorce, a settlement to a pregnant lover and a string of failed businesses.