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I’m now a better coach than player: Becker after Djokovic’s French Open win
German tennis legend Boris Becker has said he considers himself a better coach than player after overseeing Novak Djokovic’s victory in the French Open.
German tennis legend Boris Becker has said he considers himself a better coach than player after overseeing Novak Djokovic’s victory in the French Open.
“I have to admit that I am now better as a coach than a player,” said the 48-year-old Becker, who won six Grand Slams (2 Australian Opens, 1 US Open and 3 Wimbledon titles) during his playing career.
The 29-year-old Djokovic, who took Becker on as a coach for the 2014 season, captured his first French Open on Sunday to become only the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam.
More impressively, he is just the third man to hold all four majors at the same time and the first since Rod Laver back in 1969. That is something even his eternal rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have failed to achieve.
Asked about the possibility of Djokovic achieving a calendar Grand Slam which has only been achieved three times -- by Don Budge in 1938 and Laver in 1962 and 1969, Becker told Bild newspaper: “We will continue to fight.
“I’ve already reserved my seat for Wimbledon. We are aware of this historical opportunity.
“The Olympic Games are also a big focus for Novak, it’s clear, and that’s why I’ll also be in Rio to support him.”
Becker said his coaching prowess came to the fore in his ability to “analyse opponents and matches” and also put himself in the position of a player to help broach different scenarios.
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