Boris Becker's Stock Still Sky-High After Split with Novak Djokovic
Tennis superstar Boris Becker will no longer coach Novak Djokovic after their partnership of three years produced six major titles and 122 consecutive weeks for the Serb as the No. 1 player in the world.
It was clear that the relationship had run its course after Djokovic's summer swoon and difficulties to regain his most dominant form. He was vulnerable in upsets at Wimbledon and the Olympics, and he was physically battered in his run to a bitter U.S. Open final defeat to Stan Wawrinka. In November, rival Andy Murray blitzed past him at Paris for the No. 1 ranking and whipped him in the World Tour Finals.
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And just like that, they separated on December 7. After all, tennis years are like dog years, as Becker famously quipped, and for all the success, the partnership might have felt like a 21-year toll.
A lot will be written about Djokovic's future for 2017 and if he will return to dominance atop the ATP tour. Coach Becker will no doubt get rest, and he's earned it.
He also comes away as a big winner in his stint with Djokovic, with an "A" grade and soaring stock that will give him plenty of golden options however much or little he chooses to participate with professional players.
He earned greater tennis respect in the trenches, and people will listen.
Driving the Ferrari
It might have seemed easy to outsiders in December 2013 when Becker signed on to coach Djokovic. After all, the Serb had already won six major titles and was typically viewed as the most talented, well-rounded superstar in tennis. All Becker had to do was take the keys and enjoy the ride.
Not exactly. Becker had not coached, but Djokovic and his team approached the German late in 2013 seeking added fire and growth after losing a couple of big matches to Rafael Nadal and seeing the Spaniard eclipse him as the player of the year.
It was not initially an easy merge with the hard-nosed Becker and his demands for Djokovic to create added aggression with his serve and better net play. Djokovic had already been successful with longtime coach Marian Vajda, but he had lost some of his edge in big matches and had perhaps grown too comfortable with his practice routines and in dealing with big-match preparation and pressure.
After his first great peak culminated in the epic 2012 Australian title, Djokovic won only one major in seven attempts and he lost in the final four times.
Then Djokovic lost in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Australian Open and suddenly coach Becker was feeling the heat; it continued through the spring and with another French Open loss to Nadal.
Becker was questioned and criticized, something he discussed in August that same year after he found a measure of relief in assisting Djokovic to defeat Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, according to Don Riddell and James Masters of CNN:
"I wasn't aware I had that many doubters. I must have stepped on many toes in my life for all of them to beat the bushes and raise their opinion," Becker said. "We live in a free world and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I was a little bit surprised."
The Becker-Djokovic tandem paid their price through the ups and downs, but they became stronger for the glorious road that was just ahead.
"Boris contributed mostly to me from the psychological perspective, because of his broad experience," Djokovic explained to Paul Newman of the Independent. "At the start, obviously, there was a difference in our characters and in our approaches and routines. We are different people and it took some time for us to get that understanding going and the right chemistry."
Then it all clicked as Becker helped Djokovic roar ahead with one of history's great streaks, ripping off five major titles in six attempts and holding the Grand Slam (all four major titles at once). Best of all, he watched Djokovic hold up the Musketeers' Cup as fulfillment to his decade-long French-Open quest.
"It was an unbelievable ride," Becker remarked simply in his exclusive interview with Michael Kelleher of Sky Sports following the split with Djokovic.
Becker's Coaching Cachet
There's only so much the messenger can teach before the advice bounces off the wall like just another practice session.
"I think the last six months have been challenging on many levels," Becker admitted in the Kelleher interview. "Our hands were tied a little bit because we couldn't do the work we wanted to do. He didn't spend as much time on the practice court in the last six months as he should have, and he knows that."
Becker's assessment is hardly surprising from the man who was nicknamed "Boom Boom" during his playing years from the mid 1980s through the 1990s. He's direct, challenging and expects nothing less than competitive fire. He was Germany's most popular men's champion, and he shined brightest for three glorious titles at Wimbledon (1985-86, 89).
But there was also plenty of burnout and struggle as young Becker coped with a life of early fame and celebrity. He did not have the consistency to be a year-round No. 1 player (12 career weeks) like rival Ivan Lendl (270 career weeks), and it's fair to say that he squandered some of his opportunities before another more more driven player in Pete Sampras closed out remaining chances for Becker to win Wimbledon and dominate tennis.
Becker no doubt shared these lessons with Djokovic, and his wisdom and success make him one of the most unique coaches in history. He is the only coach to win six major titles and coach another star to just as many. Only Lendl as the returning and active coach to Murray (eight titles as player and three as coach) can boast comparable success.
Suppose another top-10 star needs a proven legend to help him close out his dreams of winning major titles. Coach Becker is at the top of the list, given that the star-in-waiting is willing to practice and play with fervent ambition.
Could Becker provide that extra clout for an underachiever like Grigor Dimitrov or for a hungry winner like Milos Raonic who is so close to breaking through? Would he be the rare individual who could get Nick Kyrgios to listen, practice and fulfill his potential? Would he one day form a German "Dream Team" with rising star Alexander Zverev?
Becker's got presence with his frosted, whitening hair and goatee, sunburned glare and rapid intensity. He could bore a hole through a wall with his eyes if needed, but he has a passionate and persuasive manner when he talks. He's genuine, and he can rightfully offer results.
If re-enlisted, Coach Becker will offer more than the technical improvements that saw Djokovic serve bigger, attack better and show greater patience under pressure.
He would begin and end any coaching tenure with the traditional core value that is most important of all, as he said in the Kelleher interview: "Success like this doesn't happen by pushing a button. Success like this doesn't just happen by showing up at a tournament. You have to work your bottom off because the opposition does the same."
The dream of winning championships is free, but the price is total devotion. Nobody knows this better than Becker.
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