'I gave Wimbledon's house prices a Boris bounce after moving to the area', says tennis champ Becker
06-22-2015
- German star lived in a £7m mansion close to All-England Club for six years
- Memoir claims he'd been told living in Wimbledon raised property prices
- But estate agents put price boom down to good schools and green spaces
By Daily Mail Reporter
Boris Becker has made the extraordinary claim that he has helped boost property prices near the scene of his greatest tennis triumph.
The German star, who won his first Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old, has been living in a £7 million mansion close to the All-England Club in South-West London for at least six years.
In his memoir, released last week to mark the 30th anniversary of his men’s singles triumph, Becker wrote: ‘People tell me I’ve raised the property prices by living here, which may or may not be true.’
Boris Becker, pictured returning home from a Sushi restaurant in Wimbledon with wife Lily, has made the extraordinary claim that he has helped boost property prices near the scene of his greatest tennis triumph
The German star, who won his first Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old, has been living in a £7 million mansion close to the All-England Club in South-West London for at least six years
But yesterday neighbours and estate agents said the buoyant property market in the area – homes in Becker’s street fetch up to £16 million – was due more to its fine schools, green spaces and excellent transport links.
Stephen Ashby, of agents Hawes & Co, said: ‘We’ve already got quite a few celebrities here. But what matters more to prospective purchasers is that you can get to Waterloo by train in 17 minutes.
And John Nouri, of Robert Holmes, added: ‘It’s great to have him around, but I don’t think he has had any effect on the property market.’
Becker’s spokesman said last night the star had nothing more to add on the subject.
Boris Becker reflects on iconic Wimbledon win at 17 years old
Picturesque: Wimbledon Village has a buoyant property market thanks to its pretty shops (left), green spaces including Wimbledon Common (right), fine schools, excellent transport links and - according to the man himself - Boris Becker