Coaches Dropping Like Sand Castles On the Beach In Miami

Written by: Staff on 21st March 2014

Coaches Dropping Like Sand Castles On the Beach In Miami |

Brett Connors Photography

One high profile player/coach alliance has come to a close and another looks distinctly rocky with the news that Novak Djokovic received a last minute telephone call from Boris Becker to say he wouldn’t be able to be with his Serbian charge for the Sony Open in Miami because he was about to undergo hip surgery.

Djokovic was expecting Becker to be back in the coaching seat after Marian Vajda successfully reprised the role in last week’s BNP Paribas Open title win in Indian Wells. Now Vajda, who stressed he wanted to stand down from the job on a permanent basis at the end of last year to spend more time with his family in Bratislava, has agreed to stay on for the duration of the Miami tournament.

Djokovic explained Becker’s absence when he said: “He’s unable to travel. He has surgery of his both hips today and tomorrow, so he couldn’t come. He was supposed to come here. Basically in the finals of Indian Wells he called us and said that he had an emergency.

“Of course, in these situations you can’t do much about it. If they have to operate on his hips, he cannot move, unfortunately. It’s an issue he’s been carrying for many years. But if he is able, he’s going to be in Monte Carlo. Everything stays the same, unless his health doesn’t allow him.”

Djokovic then went on to reveal the win in Indian Wells reassured him of his quality after some weeks of self-doubt. With Becker at his side he lost important matches at both the Australian Open and Dubai Duty Free Championships and prior to that, he had lost a succession of big encounters such as the French Open semi-final to Rafael Nadal, the Wimbledon final against Andy Murray and the US Open final, again against Nadal.

“I started doubting myself a little bit on the court,” said the 26 year-old. “I was struggling a little bit with my consistency and the concentration.”

Speaking specifically about Indian Wells, he added: “Throughout the tournament, I had ups and downs, but I managed to win four out of six matches in three sets.

“Mentally it’s a very encouraging win that gives me confidence and that also is very special in a way. This time of the year I needed it very much, and hopefully I can carry that into this week.”

Becker, aged 46, seemed very labored in his movement both in Melbourne and Dubai. Djokovic concluded: “The benefits and the effects of our incorporation, Boris and mine, hopefully we will see in the rest of the season.”

Topics: 10sballs, BCP, Boris Becker, Brett Connors Photography, Hip Surgery, Indian Wells, Marian Vajda, Miami, Novak Djokovic, Sony Open, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

March 21, 2014 at 8:29 am

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