Djokovic Looks To Boris Becker For Mental Strength

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th February 2014

Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships

Djokovic Looks To Boris Becker For Mental Strength

epa04100085 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan during their first round match for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 25 February 2014. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Novak Djokovic is counting on new coach Boris Becker to help him find some mental strength on court, perhaps a contradiction in terms when it comes to the former Wimbledon champion whose chaotic post-tennis life has been anything but a smooth ride.

Becker, 46, has been through a few fortunes, changed multiple sponsors, married, divorced and married again, been taken to German tax court, commented for television and dabbled in the senior circuit during the two decades-plus since he left the scene.

Now he’s back with the brief to try and calm world No. 2 Djokovic. “We’re not significantly changing anything in my game… no one-handed backhands, stuff like that,” said the six-time grand slam event champion Serb, who played his first match in more than a month in the Dubai first round. “The biggest part he can contribute is the mental approach.

“That’s one of the reasons Boris is here, because of the big matches and grand slams. I felt I dropped two or three titles in the last two years I could have won. I felt there was a mental edge I was lacking.”

Djokovic is also hoping to learn at least a portion of the net game from Becker, never shy of attacking in his heyday. “I’ve been working on that in the last year and a half. Trying to use the opportunity presented because of my ground strokes to come to the net and end the point.” said Djokovic, who added Becker to his team when long-time coach Marian Vajda expressed a desire to travel much less.

Topics: 10sballs, Boris Becker, Dubai, Novak Djokovic, Sports, Tennis, Wimbledon

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10sBalls_com says:

February 26, 2014 at 8:25 am

Djokovic Looks To Boris Becker For Mental Strength- http://t.co/2mH8Y6Oum2 @DjokerNole @TheBorisBecker #tennis #news