Novak Djokovic celebrates with coach Boris Becker at the 2015 US Open.
Six-time Grand Slam winner Boris Becker insists that he has no plans to rejoin Novak Djokovic’s technical team as a coach.
Djokovic ended a five-year association with Goran Ivanisevic after his elimination in the third round of Indian Wells, sparking speculation on who might come in to replace him in the world No 1’s team.
The Serbian has given no hints as to the future of his coaching situation but the subject has proven fertile ground for column inches and pundit discussions.
Novak Djokovic has been spotted training with Nenad Zimonjic, but the prospect of a long-term relationship between the two on a professional basis has been shut down.
Other names linked to the job of coaching the 24-time Grand Slam winner include Judy Murray, Amelie Mauresmo, and former coach Becker.
The 56-year-old Becker and the Serbian had a productive working relationship from 2013 to 2016, and they maintain a friendship to this day.
The German did, however, lately assert that he is seeking alternative options fro employment moving forward.
“I think he’s looking for something different right now. I’m not sure he knows exactly what that is,” Becker is on record as telling The Telegraph.
Becker said that the friendship between the two was strong but that a coaching position would be something he couldn’t go back to.
“He’s always going to be a close friend of mine, we always speak about tennis. But I couldn’t possibly be his coach again because I’ve done that. It would be stepping back,” Boris Becker added.
Regarding Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Madrid Open, the German had more remarks.
The Serbian surprised the tennis world, including Becker, when he said he would not be attending the Madrid Open after losing in the Monte-Carlo Masters semifinals.
Becker feels that did not provide a good explanation for his absence and feels that Djokovic needs to play more matches on clay to be well-placed to challenge at the French Open.
“I was surprised by his Madrid decision. I think at this stage he needs matches,” he said.
Becker speculated that peaking for the Olympics this season might just be the target that Djokovic has set for himself.
“He needs the competition,” Becker added.
“But he has his own schedule. I think winning gold for Serbia [at the Olympics in Paris] is his main tournament so maybe he’s already scheduling himself to be still fresh for July. This could be a reason. You can never underestimate him or count him out.”
