Boris Becker joined Novak Djokovic’s coaching team during the off-season in 2013, and they enjoyed three successful years together as the Serbian superstar lifted six Grand Slam titles – including his long-awaited first French Open crown.
The retired German star left Djokovic’s camp at the end of 2016, but they have maintained a close relationship. Djokovic has since gone on to surpass Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, holding the most Grand Slam titles and weeks at No. 1. And Becker believes that the Olympic champion always had a “different spirit” to his two biggest rivals.
Becker recently appeared on the High Performance podcast, where he opened up on his relationship with Djokovic and suggested that the 38-year-old’s upbringing helped him become a record-breaking champion.
“He has a different spirit. He comes from a country that was at war and has had to overcome many obstacles to be where he is now,” the six-time Major winner said.
“In the years we worked together, we were like a family. And Djokovic’s family story comes from a very complicated background, and overcoming all of that, winning 24 Grand Slams, and breaking every possible record, is due to his character, his personality.”
Djokovic arrived on the scene a little later than Federer and Nadal, winning his first Major title in 2008. But he has since come from behind to claim 24 Grand Slam titles – the most in the Open Era – compared to 22 for Nadal, and 20 for Federer.
Aged 38, it’s now been more than two years since Djokovic last won a Major tournament. However, he was able to win the one title that always evaded him last summer, an Olympic gold medal.
The world No. 5 also lifted his 100th career title in Geneva earlier this year, and Becker has suggested that Djokovic will go on to become the most popular tennis player in history if he can hang around on the tour for another couple of years.
He added: “He has earned the respect he has always deserved. If he plays for another year or two, he will become the most popular tennis player of all time, because the longer he is on the court, the more people will realise what Novak is really like.”
Djokovic himself recently admitted that he wasn’t thinking about retiring anytime soon. During a panel discussion at the Joy Festival in Riyadh, he said: “Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go.
“If you see across all the global sports, Lebron James, he is still going strong, he is 40. Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40-something years old, it is unbelievable.
“They are inspiring me as well, so I want to keep going, that is one of the motivations I have and then I want to also live to see, live meaning keep on playing professionally, what is coming for our sport, and I am super excited about it.”