Judge rejects Becker trial plea

Boris Becker arrives at the Miami court for the hearing

A judge in Florida has rejected a plea from the former German tennis star Boris Becker that his forthcoming custody battle with his estranged wife should take place behind closed doors.

In a hearing on Thursday, Becker asked for proceedings to take place in private because he had received several death threats.

Becker wants the Florida authorities to order his estranged wife, who was not in court, to return their children to Germany. The legal battle is expected to begin on Monday.

Barbara Becker left Germany soon after the couple announced their separation in December, and took six-year-old Noah Gabriel and one-year-old Elias Balthasar to their Florida holiday home.

Racism fears

Last year, Becker said he was considering leaving Germany because he feared for the safety of his family living in Munich due to an upsurge in racist violence.

Judge Maynard Gross rejected Becker's plea

"I have a black wife and black children and I'm not just talking about it, I live this problem day to day," he said.

"It is not a German problem, it is an international problem," he added. "You have it in France, you have it in the United States."

The announcement of the Beckers' separation was front page news in Germany, and the lead item on some evening news broadcasts. The couple married in 1993.