Former tennis champion Boris Becker is claiming diplomatic immunity against an attempt to sue him.

The German tennis legend was named as a sport and culture attache to the European Union by the government of the conflict-torn African nation in April, his lawyers said in a statement.

The three-times Wimbledon champion declared bankruptcy last year in the hope of clearing his £54million worth of debt.

His legal team said: “This means he cannot be subject to legal process in the courts of any country for so long as he remains a recognised diplomatic agent.”

The former tennis champion said the proceedings were “unjustified and unjust” and being declared bankrupt “inflicted a whole heap of damage on me”.

He said he was asserting diplomatic immunity to “bring this farce to an end” and stop “the gravy train for the suits”.

He added: “I am immensely proud of my appointment [by] the Central African Republic…sport is incredibly important in Africa and is fast becoming a universal language.”