Becker And Djokovic Together Since October

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 20th December 2013

Boris Becker new coach of Novak Djokovic as media reports

Becker And Djokovic Together Since October

epa03994928 (FILE) A file picture of former champion Boris Becker of Germany in the Royal Box on Centre Court prior to third round action for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 30 June 2012. As media reports 18 December 2013 Becker will join the coaching team of Novak Djokovic of Serbia as new head coach. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Boris Becker revealed he was approached by a representative of Novak Djokovic to be head coach as long ago as October and the actual day at the China Open in Beijing that the Serb lost his world no.1 ranking to Rafael Nadal.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio5 Live, to be broadcast this evening at 7pm (GMT), Becker admits he was surprised to get the telephone call from Djokovic’s manager Edoardo Artaldi. The 46 year-old German then met with Djokovic for a day and a half in Monte Carlo and agreed on the relationship.

“I was surprised because I did not expect to get a call like this but I was also very honored,” said Becker, like Djokovic a winner of six Grand Slam event singles titles. “We had a great time chatting back and forth and then I spoke to his agent Artaldi about some of the things I want to change.

“But I most certainly didn’t want to interrupt the work of Marian Vajda. We agreed Novak would finish the season quietly, we would keep in touch and then make the announcement when the time was right.”

Becker is insistent that Vajda was involved and agreed with the whole decision. “No coach knows Novak like Marian and he is very supportive of me in this whole process,” said Becker.

“I don’t want to interrupt because it is a well working team. I just to want to add to that team. But I know Novak was very impressed with the Ivan Lendl/Andy Murray relationship and I think he realized he needed somebody in his corner who has been there and done it.

“He must have heard me commentating and liked my views and opinions. Remember I have been out there on the big courts and both won and lost big matches like him.”

Becker, who actually commentated on Djokovic’s loss to Murray in the Wimbledon final for BBC TV and then was in the Sky Sports box as Djokovic lost to Rafael Nadal at the US Open, continued: “Novak suffered a couple of big loses in recent months and he badly wants to win. I think he was afraid of getting left behind at the really high level.

“When Murray appointed Ivan, I began to think what has taken these top guys so long to appoint all-time greats to advise them. There’s been John McEnroe and even Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. The generation I was involved in changed tennis and the way we played in the 1980’s wasn’t too different to way the game is today.

“Now I am hearing Stefan Edberg has spent some time with Roger Federer and there is a chance they might be doing some more work together. It all makes sense.”

Becker’s only previous coaching experience was with a German junior squad almost 20 years ago that included the likes of Nicolas Keifer and Tommy Haas but he is adamant: “This is not a halfhearted job.”

Becker is currently with Djokovic at a training camp in Spain and will head to Abu Dhabi with the player in the next few days to prepare for the Mubadela Tennis World Championships that begins on Boxing Day, December 26.

Topics: 10sballs, Andres Agassi, Andy Murray, Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, John Mcenroe, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Stefan Edberg, Tennis, Tennis News, Tommy Haas