Boris Becker lashes Djokovic "Novak was too defensive, never took iniative and never fought for it"

Aussie Darcy

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Becker and Djokovic split at the end of last year following a disappointing run of form for the 29-year-old, who failed to win Wimbledon, the Olympics or the US Open.

Djokovic also surrendered the world No.1 spot to Andy Murray.

The new season was supposed to represent a fresh start but Djokovic was beaten 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 by wildcard Istomin on Rod Laver Arena.


It is the first time he has lost before the third round of a grand slam in 34 attempts, since he bowed out at the same stage of Wimbledon in 2008.

“I’m really shocked that Novak Djokovic lost,” said Becker, who is part of Eurosport’s live coverage of the Australian Open.

“I thought he was playing much too defensive and never really took the initiative and never really fought for it.

“I absolutely never expected him to have trouble with Denis Istomin. No disrespect but Nole is a six-time Australian Open champion.


“But I could tell in the first set he was way too defensive and way too passive. The first set in a three out of five match is always very important.
“In the fourth set again he was a bit lethargic and not playing at full power.

“Then once you’re in the fifth set anything can happen and credit to Denis, he kept his composure, he kept his nerve, he went a break up and kept serving well and hitting the lines so it’s well deserved.”
Click to expand...

Yikes. Strong words from Becker.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis...n/news-story/70be019e769ac208d48d62b8b1490fce
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Yikes. Strong words from Becker.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis...n/news-story/70be019e769ac208d48d62b8b1490fce
Click to expand...
Becker has always talked freely. Some may call him tactless, or even stupid, but it's only human for someone who has been dismissed to have a few strong things to say.

There were a thousand things Novak could have done to honor Becker more, and he simply didn't do them. If it was a mutual decision, Novak could have handled it the way Fed handled the end of Fedberg. But he didn't.

I'm not saying he made an enemy, but he didn't make a permanent ally either.

To be honest, if someone showed me so little respect I'd have a few sharp things to say.
 
tennis_pro said:
Is Becker gonna comment on every Djokovic loss until the Serb retires?
Click to expand...
If he's announcing, yes. Or commentating - yes.

And he's going to get in more digs than he would have if he had been treated with more respect.

Paybacks are a baich...
 
Last edited:
Gary Duane said:
Becker has always talked freely. Some may call him tactless, or even stupid, but it's only human for someone who has been dismissed to have a few strong things to say.

There were a thousand things Novak could have done to honor Becker more, and he simply didn't do them. If it was a mutual decision, Novak could have handled it the way Fed handled the end of Fedberg. But he didn't.

I'm not saying he made an enemy, but he didn't make a permanent ally either.

To be honest, if someone showed me so little respect I'd have a few sharp things to say.
Click to expand...

Out of interest, in what way do you think he should he have handled the split?
 
tennis_pro said:
Is Becker gonna comment on every Djokovic loss until the Serb retires?
Click to expand...

Well, he's gone back to commentating for Eurosport so he can't avoid doing so even if he would prefer not to. They're bound to ask him about Djokovic's performances along with that of all the top players.
 
Mainad said:
I hope so too but it's still going to be a difficult and bumpy road to the trophy. No guarantees whatsoever.
Click to expand...

I know you don't want to get ahead of yourself, and I respect that as a fan. But I really think he will win now. He's the odds on favorite at a slam for the 1st time ever!
 
Boris Becker said:
The first set in a three out of five match is always very important.
Click to expand...

I would also think that the first set of a best of 3 set match is always, and even more important, given that there's only one more set that the 1st set winner needs, whereas the guy who's a set down needs to win both the remaining sets. So when is the first set ever NOT important? Can someone explain the Becker logic here?
 
Novak was too defensive, never took initiative and never fought for it
Click to expand...

A little harsh, but mostly true.

Djokovic played better from 15-40, SPs down until the end of the 3rd set. But then it was almost like Novak was waiting for Istomin to wilt in the fourth, but it didn't happen
 
Becker's right, but he comes off as tactless and it's a bit distasteful imo.
 
Gary Duane said:
Becker has always talked freely. Some may call him tactless, or even stupid, but it's only human for someone who has been dismissed to have a few strong things to say.

There were a thousand things Novak could have done to honor Becker more, and he simply didn't do them. If it was a mutual decision, Novak could have handled it the way Fed handled the end of Fedberg. But he didn't.

I'm not saying he made an enemy, but he didn't make a permanent ally either.

To be honest, if someone showed me so little respect I'd have a few sharp things to say.
Click to expand...
On fire heh?
Novak handled Becker split on his own way and honored Becker on his own way, your problem is that you see everything through federer prisma.
 
sportsfan1 said:
I would also think that the first set of a best of 3 set match is always, and even more important, given that there's only one more set that the 1st set winner needs, whereas the guy who's a set down needs to win both the remaining sets. So when is the first set ever NOT important? Can someone explain the Becker logic here?
Click to expand...

What Becker means is that most people know that the first set of best of 3 is important but often underestimate the importance of the first set in a best of 5.

This match is a clear example of how the first set affect the momentum and energy management of a match. When Djoko fail to win the first set, he had to push his limit to win the next 2 sets there fore naturally his energy level will drop in the 4th set. When it's 2 sets all, the fifth set is like a penalty shoot out while Denis has the momentum. Becker's comments is spot on and reflect exactly what has happened.
 
Shaolin said:
Gotta be driving Boris nuts that this guy with a head full of flowers, incense and Funyuns took his job and taking Novak into a world class nosedive.
Click to expand...
There is an end goal in sight; it won't be long...

c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800.jpg
 
I was watching the end of the match and the ensuing analysis with Boris on Eurosport (German language).
Boris said he was shocked, especially because he's still very close to Djokovic emotionally. He also said basically the things quoted in the article, but he most certainly didn't say Djokovic didn't try hard enough. On the contrary, Boris said Novak fought but it wasn't good enough. I think that's a difference compared to what the article suggests.
And it sure serves to show that such harsh impressions as seen in this forum, based on news reports, may not always be justified.
Edit: I can't watch the Herald Sun video - maybe he said some things in English that he didn't say at first in the German interview...
 
Last edited:
It's not easy to be aggressive against someone who hits harder than you from the backcourt. Should djokovic serve and volley? Lol.

Istomin gave Rafa one hell of a fight in 2010 USO.
 
He's doing his job even if Djokovic is not employing him. If Boris was mad at Djokovic, he'd have kept his mouth shut instead.
 
I didn't watch the match but I have impression that Becker still cares about Djokovic and feels sorry that Nole is ruined by veganism+pepe
 
Mainad said:
Well, he's gone back to commentating for Eurosport so he can't avoid doing so even if he would prefer not to. They're bound to ask him about Djokovic's performances along with that of all the top players.
Click to expand...

I've seen that interview, have German Eurosport here. My German is not very good but he was actually quite calm about it and never went over the top. All I gathered was he said it's a shocking defeat, and that Nole was too passive, while Denis remained calm and deserved the win. It didn't even last that long, the co-commentator wasn't badgering him about it.

Very hard to disagree with that or resent Becker as I feel he described at least the last two sets perfectly. Nole did try to wait Denis out and capitalize on the UE's, just as he usually does against big hitters. But he didn't do anything with the ball, he just passed them nonchalantly to the middle or just off the middle and Denis had a field day. Anytime Nole went for the corners or got Istomin running, there was an error or a hail Mary attempt. Sure, some of them went it, but mostly they wouldn't. Nole made Istomin look great, if you ask me.
 
Noelan said:
On fire heh?
Novak handled Becker split on his own way and honored Becker on his own way, your problem is that you see everything through federer prisma.
Click to expand...
Russeljones said:
Why should he stop then?
Click to expand...
Mainad said:
Out of interest, in what way do you think he should he have handled the split?
Click to expand...
By giving a LOT more credit to Becker for being key to his dominance over the last few years. Make it crystal clear. Then don't make it appear that Becker was "fired", which is how it appears.
 
Noelan said:
On fire heh?
Novak handled Becker split on his own way and honored Becker on his own way, your problem is that you see everything through federer prisma.
Click to expand...
That's a load of crap:

"“On the other hand, my professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play, and also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season. In this regard I will make all future decisions.”

This has NOTHING to do with whether or not I like or dislike Djokovic. This statement implies that although Becker was good in the past, he no longer is, and that he was replacing him with someone else who could get the job done that Becker was NO LONGER DOING.

But perhaps that is the best that Serbian diplomacy gets...
 
125downthemiddle said:
I know you don't want to get ahead of yourself, and I respect that as a fan. But I really think he will win now. He's the odds on favorite at a slam for the 1st time ever!
Click to expand...

Strictly speaking, this will be the second time.
He was the "pre-tournament favourite" for the 2009 Australian Open. Overly generous odds which we all soon realised were wrong.

This time, however, it's clear cut because he is the best player in the world.
 
Krish872007 said:
Strictly speaking, this will be the second time.
He was the "pre-tournament favourite" for the 2009 Australian Open. Overly generous odds which we all soon realised were wrong.

This time, however, it's clear cut because he is the best player in the world.
Click to expand...

What was the reasoning there? I do remember a bit now that you mention it, but can't remember the rationale. I could see Nadal not being the favorite after USO'08 and the fact he had yet to win a HC slam. I know Federer was the favorite in the final vs. Nadal, why wasn't he the pre tournament favorite?
 
125downthemiddle said:
What was the reasoning there? I do remember a bit now that you mention it, but can't remember the rationale. I could see Nadal not being the favorite after USO'08 and the fact he had yet to win a HC slam. I know Federer was the favorite in the final vs. Nadal, why wasn't he the pre tournament favorite?
Click to expand...

I believe it was due to Murray's great ending to 2008 - he won Cincy, made the US Open Final, won Madrid reached the SFs at the Year-End Champs, won Abu Dhabi and Doha at the start of 2009 as well.
Pretty much beat everyone in that time frame and the bookies started to really believe the hype I think.

Eventually, Monfils (who beat Nadal in straight sets in Doha) and Murray's AO campaigns showed us that Doha is not relevant to the AO.

Federer ended 2008 quite poorly and lost to Murray in Doha, so that pretty much lost him the "favourite" tag - no-one realised that he would suddenly go up several gears in the Slams.
 
Nadalgaenger said:

Second 45 I quote (via translation): "Being champion of this or that isn't that important. All it brings you is a label. But that label doesn't bring happiness." Bla bla bla
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter if you lose to Istomin. As long as you're happy.
 
why is everyone blaming pepe and a lack of boris for this loss? djokovics game started going down over 6mo. ago before any of these changes..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

uscwang
  • Poll Poll
Vitamin B4 for Novak: Bring Back Boris Becker!
Replies
23
Views
1K
Shaolin
Shaolin
Fiji
Octozone: Novak Djokovic will regret appointing Boris Becker
2
Replies
63
Views
12K
ppmishra
P
skypadq
2017 AO istomin vs djokovic and what IF
Replies
24
Views
2K
King No1e
King No1e
Cabeza del Demonio
20for20 #17: 2017 2R, Istomin vs Djokovic
Replies
12
Views
1K
AnOctorokForDinner
AnOctorokForDinner
clayqueen
Boris Becker: Rafael Nadal Is The Favorite To Win The French Open
3 4 5
Replies
244
Views
18K
clayqueen
clayqueen
Back
Top