|
Boris Becker said on Friday he would make all possible efforts as he begins coaching Novak Djokovic at next month’s Australian Open. |
The three-time Wimbledon winner, 47, told the BBC that he plans to make a success of the unexpected initiative, which sees him take over as head coach while longtime Djokovic mentor Marian Vajda steps into the background.
“This isn’t a half-hearted job, it wouldn’t be right for him or for me,” said the German, who currently has television commentary and personal sponsorship responsibilities of his own as an international former sports figure.
“You’re in it to win it. You either go at it fully or you don’t - either I commit myself or I don’t commit myself.”
Becker becomes the most recent former player to take up coaching, with Ivan Lendl guiding Andy Murray and former French Open winner Sergi Bruguera of Spain now working with Richard Gasquet.
There have also been reports that Swede Stefan Edberg, a Becker contemporary two decades ago, would be open to working with Roger Federer.
Becker said he got a surprise call from the Djokovic camp in early October after the Serb lost the world number one ranking to Rafael Nadal in Beijing.
Djokovic retaliated after that prestige blow by winning his last 24 matches of the season and will begin 2014 in less than a week at the Abu Dhabi exhibition.
“He (Djokovic) decided he needed somebody in his corner that had been there and done it. I didn’t expect
the phone call. I was very honoured,” said Becker.