Munich: German tennis legend Boris Becker was convicted of tax evasion on Thursday but escaped a jail term in what he called the "most important victory" of his career.

A court in this southern city handed the three-time Wimbledon champion a two-year suspended sentence as well as Euro 300,000 ($ 292,000) fine for failing to pay more than one million Euros in taxes between 1991 and 1993.

He was also told to pay an additional 200,000 Euros to charitable causes as a condition of his sentence.

The 34-year-old playboy admitted at the start of the trial that he had made "mistakes" in his financial dealings but denied deliberately trying to cheat the system. He said he would accept the judgment and not pursue an appeal.

"This was my most important victory," Becker said in a statement released by his Munich press office.

"I am happy and relieved that this chapter is finally closed. I am free -- that is the most important thing."

Known as "Boom Boom" for his once-powerful serve, Becker said during the trial that the criminal investigation had played a role in his decision to retire from professional tennis in 1999.

Becker had spent eight years in the world top-10 rankings from 1985 when he became the youngest man and the first German ever to win Wimbledon, making him a national hero at the tender age of 17.

He told the court during the trial that tennis -- and sometimes a girl – were on his mind when he decided to buy an apartment in the southern German city of Munich while claiming permanent residence in the tax haven Monaco.

Agencies