Three-time Wimbledon champion and Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Boris Becker has given a clear thumbs-up to the Serbian’s latest partnership with American superstar Andre Agassi.
Becker, a former World No. 1, guided Djokovic to six Grand Slam titles between 2014 and 2016 before the 12-time Major winner decided to part ways with the German after he fell into a spiral of negative results and poor performances. And Becker, who shares a close bond with Djokovic, is in agreement with his former protégé’s decision to appoint Andre Agassi as his new super coach.
Speaking to Bild, Becker said: “I could imagine that in the quiet little room he already thought: ‘The time with Becker was pretty good.’ On the other hand, Agassi is a very good man. In Melbourne you will already see a closer cooperation. Does Agassi have potential as a coach? Yes. Was he the number one? Yes. Is he Grand Slam winner? Yes. Does he have the character to tell Djokovic the truth? Yes. Is he financially dependent? No. These are good factors for a coach to work with a superstar. “
Becker was asked what he thought about his country’s rising star Alexander Zverev and whether the current World No. 4 had the potential to win a Grand Slam and become World No. 1 in the near future. The six-time Major winner responded by saying: “Of the 96 top 100 professionals who follow Nadal & Co., he is the player who has made the biggest move. He has won two Masters tournaments, beaten Federer a few times. That speaks for itself. Zverev is the best player behind Big 4 Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray. (…) I do not think he even knows what his best rubber is today. That is very important. He does not know yet where his greatest strength lies. I have spoken of Zverev as an unpolished diamond. He is still very unpolished. “
