Novak Djokovic appoints Boris Becker as new head coach

[Deleted member 369227]

Recent news...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2525723/Djokovic-appoints-Becker-head-coach-bid-return-world-No-1-spot.html

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/tennis/news/djokovic-appoints-becker-as-coach_125121.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/18/boris-becker-novak-djokovic_n_4464233.html

 

[Tshooter]

I didn't see that coming...

I hope he doesn't let Becker mess with his strokes like Martin did with the serve. Just sit there and cheerlead.

 

[Chico]

Interesting indeed.

 

[FedererWinsWimbledon2014]

Wow, encouraging to see him make changes despite the END of 2013 going well.

If you stand still you will fall back.

Would be pretty cool if Fed appointed Edberg now.

 

[Homeboy Hotel]

Big risk, examples of hiring a previous greats has shown it could work (Lendl/Murray) or go horribly no-where (Sharapova/Connors).

I say give it till the US Open 2014. I think Boris is not what Djokovic is looking for in the long term, Boris will probably feel he cannot contribute any more to the team then his current tight knit set up.

Btw, =this must of cost A LOT. Considering how well Becker is paid to be a TV commentator for BBC/Sky. He must of needed a serious financial gain to start traveling on tour again.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nice move, I like it Novak. I hope Rafa does something different in this off-season too. Game on!

 

[jg153040]

I'm really surprised. They don't seem to have anything in common.
How will Becker relate to Djokovic and understand him?

 

[Lavs]

No way it is a good news... Nole will still regret. I thought there is nobodey can replay Marian Vajda in that regard...

 

[LazyNinja19]

What about this guy? :shock:

I think Djoko is looking to improve his Grass game in order to win Wimbledon, hence this move.

 

[iriraz]

With Becker as a tennis coach Djokovic will have more women in his bedroom then tennis trophies

 

[PhrygianDominant]

With Becker as a tennis coach Djokovic will have more women in his bedroom then tennis trophies

I am sure this is the angle he is working.

Djokovic: Boris, I think I am at a turning point in my career...

Becker: How's that?

D: I may have maxed out my results in 2011, and I can't stop thinking, what's a few more grand slam victories? you know?

B: I totally get you...

D: So, like, if you could help me make the utmost of my star appeal at the moment, by bedding as many women as possible, night and day, and damn the consequences....that would be great.

B: The way is hard young man, but I think you are ready.

 

[Graf=GOAT]

Maybe he can teach him how to serve properly.

 

[jg153040]

With Becker as a tennis coach Djokovic will have more women in his bedroom then tennis trophies

Yeah, I thought about the same thing.

 

[Boozyuzi]

It's got to be a Djokovic wind up ?

 

[killerboi2]

Always figured Becker as more of a Murray fan, seeing as he always seems to back Murray to beat Djokovic whenever they meet in slams. Or maybe he just likes telling the British press what they want to hear.

Anyhow it does seem a bit of a strange move from Djokovic. He was already getting his form back post us open, so this just seems to be putting more unecessary pressure on him. Maybe it could work though.

 

[Backspin1183]

Good move. Let's see if Becker can help him win the French Open, the title Djokovic wants the most.

 

[Chanwan]

If it ain't broken, why fix it? Djokovic had a tremendous ending to the season, playing some of his best tennis since 2011.
It may be to enhance his chances at Wimbledon, his serve or his netgame. But even his serve is functioning pretty well now.
I hope he can do for Djokovic what Lendl has done for Murray. But I can't - from the outside at least - quite grasp the need of this change.

 

[clayqueen]

Wow, encouraging to see him make changes despite the END of 2013 going well.

If you stand still you will fall back.

Would be pretty cool if Fed appointed Edberg now.

.........And Rafa hires McEnroe.

Is this where the deal was done? The only thing Becker can offer Nole is help him cope with the reigning PokerStars GOAT................Rafael Nadal. Becker was lurking around Rafa at Necker Island, possibly gathering some intelligence on Rafa;s psyche.

 

[clayqueen]

Wow, encouraging to see him make changes despite the END of 2013 going well.

If you stand still you will fall back.

Would be pretty cool if Fed appointed Edberg now.

.........And Rafa hires McEnroe.

Is this where the deal was done? The only thing Becker can offer Nole is help him cope with the reigning PokerStars GOAT................Rafael Nadal. Becker was lurking around Rafa at Necker Island, possibly gathering some intelligence on Rafa's psyche.

 

[Steve0904]

This move doesn't seem to make a lot of sense from the outside, but I guess we'll see.

 

[dominikk1985]

I didn't see that coming...

I hope he doesn't let Becker mess with his strokes like Martin did with the serve. Just sit there and cheerlead.

I think becker will leave his strokes alone (especially ground game) but will try to get novak to be more aggressive and go to the net more. maybe he can help him with his overheads too.

 

[President]

Wasn't Becker just saying relatively recently that Djokovic (and Nadal) would have been slaughtered if he played in the 90's? LOL

 

[TheF1Bob]

Megaton!

 

[TheF1Bob]

This move doesn't seem to make a lot of sense from the outside, but I guess we'll see.

It makes perfect sense. Novak needs to improve net game and Becker will help with that big time.

Really happy with this news.

 

[TheAnty-vic]

Interesting move by Anty!

 

[Sentinel]

What is Clarky's reaction to this new development ?

 

[TheF1Bob]

Always figured Becker as more of a Murray fan, seeing as he always seems to back Murray to beat Djokovic whenever they meet in slams. Or maybe he just likes telling the British press what they want to hear.

Anyhow it does seem a bit of a strange move from Djokovic. He was already getting his form back post us open, so this just seems to be putting more unecessary pressure on him. Maybe it could work though.

ugh? picking a winner of a match doesn't mean favoritism you know? Unless you're Murray of course. 8)

Becker gets upset when Novak doesn't perform in the big matches.

You can tell his has a soft spot for him.

 

[sbengte]

What is Clarky's reaction to this new development ?

Clarky is racking her brains trying to coin a new insulting nick for Nole like Boomovic or Broomovic.

 

[sbengte]

On the thread topic : Very very odd pairing, can't make sense out of it. Murray-Lendl , on the other hand was a perfect match, you knew it would be a hit from the moment it was announced. Anyway, we will see how this unfolds.

Novak , just get Dr Igor back. That is all you need.

 

[jg153040]

Wasn't Becker just saying relatively recently that Djokovic (and Nadal) would have been slaughtered if he played in the 90's? LOL

Yeah, was thinking the same thing. How can Djokovic hire a guy who talks bad about him in public?

And Becker is known for his drug and women problems. This means he is mentally weak. Becker was even making fun of Murray being loyal to his girlfriend.

Becker will make Djokovic mentally weaker and a bad person. How can a coach who thinks your game is not good for the 90s , have positive effects on your confidence?

 

[abmk]

Clarky is racking her brains trying to coin a new insulting nick for Nole like Boomovic or Broomovic.

LOL

10 chars ..

 

[clayqueen]

ugh? picking a winner of a match doesn't mean favoritism you know? Unless you're Murray of course. 8)

Becker gets upset when Novak doesn't perform in the big matches.

You can tell his has a soft spot for him.

Anyone working for a British broadcasting outlet has it in their contract to suppport Murray against even their grandmother.

 

[clayqueen]

Nole has hired Becker purely for his poker brain because Rafa is the Poker GOAT and Becker is a keen poker player.

 

[FreeBird]

5 consecutive Wimbledon titles for Djokovic now. 8)

 

[Steve0904]

It makes perfect sense. Novak needs to improve net game and Becker will help with that big time.

Really happy with this news.

Yeah, I guess so. As long as Becker doesn't become too involved. That's what I'm worried about, but they probably sorted that out before Becker even agreed.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Be afraid Rafa- be VERY afraid!:}

 

[objectivity]

i have always wondered exactly how many GS titles Boris would have won if he wasn't an insomniac and nutcase back then. wimbledon 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 were all championships he should have won, if he wasn't high on sleeping pills.

 

[Minion]

I don't see the relation either, i mean Becker never won FO, was decent on clay, but great on grass, but Djokovic already won Wimbledon....

Now all Fed has to do is hire Sampras as his new coach and we might have something

 

[chjtennis]

If it ain't broken, why fix it? Djokovic had a tremendous ending to the season, playing some of his best tennis since 2011.

Exactly my thoughts.

Also, I don't know if Becker will make a good coach. He was my favorite player of late 80s-90s, but I never saw him as a potentially good coach. I hope he proves me wrong. Novak is making a big move. He is at an important point in his career so this should work otherwise a good career will be wasted.

 

[Deleted member 369227]

What about this guy? :shock:

I think Djoko is looking to improve his Grass game in order to win Wimbledon, hence this move.

That guy stays in the team. He is a very good tactician, and I doubt that Novak plans to end their highly successful partnership.

On the other hand, Boris Becker will probably try to improve his serve and volley skills, IMO.

 

[pound cat]

BELGRADE, December 18 – Novak Djokovic has hired German tennis legend Boris Becker as his head coach ahead of the Australian open in January, the Serbian player announced on his website Wednesday.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris,” Djokovic said.

“He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the grand slams and other tournaments,” the world number two said.

Six-time Grand Slam champion, 46-year old Becker said he was “proud Novak invited me to become his head coach.”

“I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together,” he said.

Becker will join Djokovic’s coaches Marian Vajda, Miljan Amanovic and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, the website said.

Vajda, who has worked with Djokovic for almost eight years, welcomed Becker into the team, saying it was a “good solution” to choose the German player.

“I realised that Novak needed a new head coach in order for him to continue improving certain parts of his game,” Vajda said.

Becker will link up with Djokovic and his team for the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on January 13.

“Boris brings a new and fresh approach, and together with Vajda he will make a winning combination,” 26-year old Djokovic said.

He said his goal for 2014 “is to play my best tennis and to get in shape for the Grand Slams and Masters.”

“These tournaments have the most weight in our sport, and I want to prove my worth at them. The team is now strengthened and we hope for maximum results,” he said.

Djokovic won the Australian Open in January for the third year in a row, but he was defeated in the semi-finals of the French Open by Rafael Nadal and lost in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open to Andy Murray and Nadal.

The Spaniard also took back the world number one spot from the Serb before Djokovic produced a superb finish to the year winning the World Tour Championship in London.

Becker won 64 ATP titles in his career, including six Grand Slam singles titles.

The move to hire a tennis legend like Becker mirrors Murray’s successful linkup with Ivan Lendl, which resulted in the Scot winning the 2012 US Open and this year’s Wimbledon.

Eurosport uk



Djokovic will now have 5 coaches. Hopefully they will all get along.

 

[Bartelby]

I thiink I prefer Fed's solution of buying in different expertise from time to time.

 

[Messarger]

Nadal should hire Vajda now just for the lulz.

On a more serious note, how can Becker help Djokovic win Wimbledon, if the surface has been changed to green clay as some of you like to put it?

 

[irishnadalfan1983]

This is really strange.

Brosi doesn't strike me as the most dedicated kind of guy - more fond of a drink and chatting to the ladies.

 

[chrischris]

Wow, encouraging to see him make changes despite the END of 2013 going well.

If you stand still you will fall back.

Would be pretty cool if Fed appointed Edberg now.

BoomBoom kinda pales next to Nole..

 

[Deleted member 369227]

Nadal should hire Vajda now just for the lulz.

On a more serious note, how can Becker help Djokovic win Wimbledon, if the surface has been changed to green clay as some of you like to put it?

For those who didn't get it - Vajda stays in the team.

"In a few weeks Novak and I enter the eighth year of cooperation, during which we have achieved almost all the set goals. I needed assistance of an additional coach in order to continue improving certain parts of Novak's game, and also to have more space for my private and family obligations.

This will not significantly affect my role in Djokovic team, where I will continue to be highly dedicated. On the other hand, choosing Becker as head coach is a good solution, and I am sure Boris and I will get along just fine in the future work, so Novak will continue to improve his game", said Vajda

 

[Omega_7000]

I think Novak is looking at longevity...Hope he incorporates a solid net game to shorten his matches.

 

[Bartelby]

Maybe he'll switch to a wooden racquet while he's at it.

I think Novak is looking at longevity...Hope he incorporates a solid net game to shorten his matches.

 

[5555]

If it ain't broken, why fix it?

Djokovic has not a slam outside AO since 2011.

 

[Mainad]

I'm really surprised. They don't seem to have anything in common.

6 Grand Slam titles each?