RUMOURS that Boris Becker was about to leave Germany for good and settle in the Florida sunshine were gathering pace as the former world number one prepared for another comeback at this week's Florida Super 9 tournament at Key Biscayne.
Becker and his manager have steadfastly refused to comment on the speculation but the tennis star has made it known on several occasions in recent months that his long term plans do not include living in Germany.
His greatest concern is the increasing number of racist insults directed toward his coloured wife Barbara and, for the same reason, does not want his three year old son Noah attending a German school.
Becker fears the boy would be a target of racial abuse, not to mention playground torment because of his famous dad.
The last straw may have come in December when tax investigators swooped on Becker's German home on the outskirts of Munich, as well as that of his parents in Leimen.
After all that he has done to serve his country and promote the name of Germany in a positive light, 29 year old Becker feels let down that he is now the target of tax dodging allegations.
When the three time Wimbledon champion flew out of Munich for Miami yesterday morning, the German media was left to feverishly wonder if this was goodbye for ever.
As a passionate Bayern Munich football fan, he delayed his flight to take in Bayern's weekend match against Schalke. Then, in Saturday's edition of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, a classified advertisement appeared which seemed to confirm all suspicions: "Original 5600 Mercedes of Boris Becker for sale, 18,000km, blue black metallic, new DM240,000, now 95,555 plus tax".
With the car gone, the world number 12 would be one step closer to joining his wife Barbara and young Noah, who are already living at the Becker's second residence, on Florida's Fisher Island.
The wrist injury he sustained at last year's Wimbledon has kept Becker out for most of this year, limiting him to just three matches.
He was dumped from the Australian Open in the first round by Carlos Moya in January, and then beat Marc Kevin Goellner and Sandon Stolle in the desert of Dubai before retiring hurt against Goran Ivanisevic.
That was five weeks ago and Becker hasn't served a ball in anger since. Although now 12th in the world rankings, he is determined to be the world number one again before he retires.
First though, he must toil his way through the summer clay court season - his least favourite surface.
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