Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl Rekindling Rivalry as Coaches at Wimbledon 2016

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray enter Wimbledon 2016 with their rivalry front and center.

Their coaches will rekindle another great rivalry: Ivan Lendl vs. Boris Becker.

Lendl holds an 11-10 edge against Becker. However, Becker bested Lendl five times (5-1) in Grand Slams and owned him at Wimbledon (3-0).

With Lendl back as coach for No. 2 Murray and Becker coaching No. 1 Djokovic, Wimbledon will feature today's best backed by two of the game's greatest.

Early this week, Lendl rejoined Murray's camp. Under Lendl, Murray won the 2012 Olympics gold medal in London, the 2012 U.S. Open and Wimbledon in 2013. But the two split in March 2014.

Murray then hired Amelie Mauresmo. Although their partnership produced several Grand Slam finals appearances, Murray never won a Slam under Mauresmo. They ended their relationship this year, just before the French Open.

Now, Lendl and Murray hope to thwart Becker and Djokovic's quest to complete a calendar Grand Slam.

Lendl said, per the Guardian, “In tennis there is the career Grand Slam, there is four in a row, there is the calendar-year Grand Slam and the Golden Slam. He (Djokovic) has a chance to do that this year. Obviously, Andy and I would like to ruin those plans if we can."

In the 1980s, the rivalry between Becker and Lendl showcased a clash in styles and personalities. Becker burst onto the tennis scene as a 17-year-old with a thundering serve that earned him the nickname "Boom Boom."

Charismatic and bodacious, Becker brought the drama. Everything from his rocking windup before his serve to his Jimmy Connors-style celebrations that electrified fans. Here was this young kid, perfecting the serve-and-volley.

Meanwhile, Lendl was the cerebral baseliner who methodically built points. He sometimes appeared indifferent, aloof. Running around his more vulnerable backhand, Lendl used his powerful forehand to dictate play.

Whenever Becker and Lendl played, they displayed their mastery of their respective styles.

One of the more memorable matches took place in 1988 at the ATP Tour Finals. The match took four hours and 42 minutes and ended in an amazing rally (featured in the video above).

After the match, Becker said, according to the New York Times' Peter Alfano, "I'm at the stage of my career and life where I've learned a few lessons. But nothing good comes easy. Physically, it was the hardest match I've ever played. It took a long time since I've had that kind of win. My last big moment was at Wimbledon in 1986."

Becker was an 18-year-old defending champ at that Wimbledon. It was Lendl's first trip to a Wimbledon final. Becker cruised by Lendl in straight sets. Three years later they would meet in the semifinals at Wimbledon. Lendl fell to Becker, again.

The Chicago Tribune's Phil Hersh summed up the match:

"

Lendl's struggle to win Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam championship to elude him, has begun to assume mythic proportions after 10 attempts. Both man and nature seemed to conspire against the top seed this time as Becker wrote the conclusion to a brilliant epic, 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

"

Four of the five Grand Slam matches between Becker and Lendl went to a fourth or fifth set. Three were in Slam finals. Becker won all three.

Lendl never won Wimbledon, at least not as a player. He did guide Murray to a historic victory over Djokovic at the 2013 Wimbledon, though.

However, Becker didn't join Djokovic's team until a few months later.

Becker and Djokovic have the upper hand against Lendl and Murray.

However, Lendl said, per Reuters (via Sky Sports), "We know Andy has it in him. So now the question is, 'Can he do it again?' I think that's an easier question to answer than, 'Can you do it at all?'"

Becker, who told Agence France-Presse he considers himself a better coach than he was a player (via Times of India), spoke with Rolling Stone's Juan Jose Vallejo about what it means to see past champions coaching today's stars:

"

I also think it's good for the game that you have players who used to be the best back in the locker room, back involved on the court with the younger players. Even though Stefan Edberg isn't a part of Team (Roger) Federer anymore, he was with him for two years...I think it's good for the game.

"

With Federer ailing and Rafael Nadal out with an injury, Djokovic and Murray will be the featured rivalry at Wimbledon. They went 1-1 during the clay-court season and met in the finals in Melbourne and Roland Garros.

Murray's struggles against Djokovic in Grand Slam finals are similar to what his coach Lendl went through against Becker.

Familiar adversaries, Lendl and Becker will be at it again. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their first meeting at Wimbledon.

In a few weeks, the rivalry will resume. But this time Becker and Lendl are generals instead of foot soldiers. You can bet the competitive fire that burned so intensely within these two three decades ago will be equally as hot from each player's box.