Becker: Nole is not just the best tennis player, he's the best Sportsman

[esvc]

Becker on Djokovic: “Maybe we have to say he’s not just the best tennis player at the moment, but the best sportsman”

The German says Djokovic should be compared with the likes of Lionel Messi. LeBron James and Tom Brady

www.tennismajors.com

Boris Becker may have moved on with his new role coaching Holger Rune but the former world No 1 has not forgotten the man he helped add to his Grand Slam tally.

Becker, back in the sport after serving eight months in a UK prison for hiding assets in a bankruptcy case, joined the Rune camp in October and will be head coach of the Dane in 2024.

But the German remains a big fan of Novak Djokovic, with whom he worked between 2013 and 2016 and helped win six Grand Slam titles. Speaking on Eurosport Germany’s ‘Das Gelbe vom Ball’ podcast, Becker said Djokovic should be in any discussion as to the greatest sportsman of all time.

“For me, he is the lion king,” Becker said. “We do our best to teach tennis fans what is impossible to teach: What this player has won in his 16-or-17-year career and that he is perhaps playing his best tennis at the age of 36 – he has won three Grand Slam tournaments this year and reached the final at Wimbledon, he was close to the calendar Grand Slam at the age of 36, this is out of this world.

“He plays two and a half hours in Paris on Thursday, three hours against Rune on Friday, another three hours against (Andrey) Rublev – a normal person gets tired, Novak gets better and then beats a strong (Grigor) Dimitrov in straight sets in the final. He then does the same again at the ATP Finals.

“Maybe you have to look at it more generally and (say) he’s not just the best tennis player at the moment, but the best sportsman. I want to compare him to a Lionel Messi, a LeBron James and a Tom Brady – for me, that’s the category Novak Djokovic is in, because all these athletes are dominating or have dominated their sport even in their mid or late thirties.

“Djokovic does the same. I hope he continues to do so for a long time, because nothing better can happen to young players than to compete on the same level as the most successful player of all time. That’s the best lesson in tennis.”

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Becker on Djokovic: “Maybe we have to say he’s not just the best tennis player at the moment, but the best sportsman”

The German says Djokovic should be compared with the likes of Lionel Messi. LeBron James and Tom Brady

www.tennismajors.com

Boris Becker may have moved on with his new role coaching Holger Rune but the former world No 1 has not forgotten the man he helped add to his Grand Slam tally.

Becker, back in the sport after serving eight months in a UK prison for hiding assets in a bankruptcy case, joined the Rune camp in October and will be head coach of the Dane in 2024.

But the German remains a big fan of Novak Djokovic, with whom he worked between 2013 and 2016 and helped win six Grand Slam titles. Speaking on Eurosport Germany’s ‘Das Gelbe vom Ball’ podcast, Becker said Djokovic should be in any discussion as to the greatest sportsman of all time.

“For me, he is the lion king,” Becker said. “We do our best to teach tennis fans what is impossible to teach: What this player has won in his 16-or-17-year career and that he is perhaps playing his best tennis at the age of 36 – he has won three Grand Slam tournaments this year and reached the final at Wimbledon, he was close to the calendar Grand Slam at the age of 36, this is out of this world.

“He plays two and a half hours in Paris on Thursday, three hours against Rune on Friday, another three hours against (Andrey) Rublev – a normal person gets tired, Novak gets better and then beats a strong (Grigor) Dimitrov in straight sets in the final. He then does the same again at the ATP Finals.

“Maybe you have to look at it more generally and (say) he’s not just the best tennis player at the moment, but the best sportsman. I want to compare him to a Lionel Messi, a LeBron James and a Tom Brady – for me, that’s the category Novak Djokovic is in, because all these athletes are dominating or have dominated their sport even in their mid or late thirties.

“Djokovic does the same. I hope he continues to do so for a long time, because nothing better can happen to young players than to compete on the same level as the most successful player of all time. That’s the best lesson in tennis.”

Seems that Boris has a TTW account.

 

[Hitman]

Seems that Boris has a TTW account.

Or at the very least, he reads it.

 

[Mainad]

This phrase is interesting: "a normal person gets tired, Novak gets better".

So Boris thinks Novak is abnormal thus confirming what many of us have suspected for a long time?

 

[mtommer]

"a normal person gets tired, Novak gets better"

Boy, he sure does! I wonder just how that could be......

 

[The Sinner]

Becker confirms that Djokovic is currently playing his best tennis. Looking forward to the next couple years once Sinner peaks.

Also, not just Sinner, but add Alcaraz & Rune in the mix, taking on peak GOAT Djokovic.

 

[bigbadboaz]

By the definition of "sportsman", he is most certainly not the best sportsman. No matter how much he achieves.

 

[InsuranceMan]

Bosnian Energy Pyramids + Egg is a deadly combo

 

[messiahrobins]

Becker literally got every sport wrong. Many would have nadal and federer over djokovic ronaldo over messi rogers over brady and jordan over lebron although basket ball is a small time irrelevant sport really.
There two undisputed goats, perhaps 3. Bolt, phelps and muhamed ali.

 

[TMF]

LAUGHABLE

Djokovic has NEVER won the ATP sportsmanship award.

Federer has won a record 13 times and Nadal 5 times

 

[jackson vile]

Novak isn’t finished yet, let’s see what happens in 2024. Could be the end for him or could be an epic calendar slam, either way he’s the God of tennis.

 

[mahatma]

def in the conversation for this generation’s best sportsman. Without a question.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

By the definition of "sportsman", he is most certainly not the best sportsman. No matter how much he achieves.

Criminal Becker's backing proves he is indeed not

 

[Krish0608]

Novak isn’t finished yet, let’s see what happens in 2024. Could be the end for him or could be an epic calendar slam, either way he’s the God of tennis.

Nah.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

"a normal person gets tired, Novak gets better"

Boy, he sure does! I wonder just how that could be......

Pilates and giving bagels a pass. Simples.

 

[weakera]

Shohei Ohtani has put the bar out of reach. I concede that Novak is currently in the conversation for second to best active athlete. Although Boris' comments about Djokovic's fitness are eyebrow-raising.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Boris is a man of tennis.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

Shohei Ohtani has put the bar out of reach. I concede that Novak is currently in the conversation for second to best active athlete. Although Boris' comments about Djokovic's fitness are eyebrow-raising.

Haha you think he's subtly trying to say Djokovic is cheating on endurance?

 

[tennis_pro]

not even the best serb because tesla

 

[weakera]

Haha you think he's subtly trying to say Djokovic is cheating on endurance?

Definitely not but it's interesting

 

[Kralingen]

I want to compare him to a Lionel Messi, a LeBron James and a Tom Brady – for me, that’s the category Novak Djokovic is in, because all these athletes are dominating or have dominated their sport even in their mid or late thirties.

Boris knows the standard.

Novak has publicly named LeBron as a source of inspiration for his longevity as well.

People online will tell you he’s an overrated fraud, but the real elite competitors know how special of an athlete LeBron James is.

 

[Mustard]

Becker: Nole is not just the best tennis player, he's the best Sportsman​

 

[SonnyT]

LAUGHABLE

Djokovic has NEVER won the ATP sportsmanship award.

Federer has won a record 13 times and Nadal 5 time.

Federer won because of looking woeful when he lost.

Nadal won in spite of looking spiteful when he lost.

 

[Aabye5]

No, Nole is not the best sportsman, but he has come very far. Almost as far as Roger in terms of temperament (that Swiss guy had a lot further to go). Kudos to Nole for not letting that low point a few years ago keep him down. Always knows how to hold his head high and thank his kids. I love how Nole is going from anti-hero to something new and hopefully better. I also appreciate his attempts to be honest, most of the time.

 

[onehandbh]

“Maybe you have to look at it more generally and (say) he’s not just the best tennis player at the moment, but the best sportsman. I want to compare him to a Lionel Messi, a LeBron James and a Tom Brady – for me, that’s the category Novak Djokovic is in, because all these athletes are dominating or have dominated their sport even in their mid or late thirties.

Imagine if Djokovic had trained for the 100m instead of tennis? Or NBA? or Football? Track & Field 100m? Powerlifting? Would be interesting to see how far he could go. He is so driven and a perfectionist.

 

[Midaso240]

Can't really put him ahead because tennis has a much smaller pool of talent to compete against

 

[Neptune]

LAUGHABLE

Djokovic has NEVER won the ATP sportsmanship award.

Federer has won a record 13 times and Nadal 5 times

Despite all the advantages they receive from party organizers, the two tennis party darlings now only have those achievements to showcase. Laughable.

 

[DSH]

Khabib is the best sportsman of our time, either Khabib, Mayweather or Messi. I'm just biased because in terms of combat, I believe Judo rules above all (individually).

Hitting the ball over a net is not on the level of putting your life on the line in the ring or the octagon.

He's also not on Messi's level. Messi is the best at pretty much every attacking aspect of his sport - dribbling, passing, team play, vision, goalscoring, freekicks

Juninho Pernambucano has been the best free kick shooter in the history of football.

 

[ryushen21]

Thanks! I needed a good laugh today. Saying Djokovic is a sportsman is like saying Kyrgios has a good attitude.

 

[TMF]

Despite all the advantages they receive from party organizers, the two tennis party darlings now only have those achievements to showcase. Laughable.

Wrong. Not only Fedal have a GOAT career, but they are the two biggest tennis legends and the face of the ATP franchise. Djokovic is the 3rd wheeler

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

What have I just read?

Yes Djokovic is a third wheeler as he can't even hit a basic stroke like overheads