Becker Quits BBC to Concentrate on Djokovic Coaching

Posted: 5:18 pm, December 22, 2013 by MunichNOW News

Boris Becker new coach of Novak Djokovic as media reports -- photo: dpa

Munich (dpa) - Multi-tasker Boris Becker has give up his part-time “day job” as a BBC television tennis commentator to concentrate full time on coaching world number two Novak Djkokovic.

Six-time grand slam winner Becker, 46, will not attempt to juggle the two jobs to avoid any conflict of interest.

In this Friday July 5, 2013 file photo, Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during their Men’s singles semifinal match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. The second-ranked Serb said Wednesday Dec. 18, 2013 that six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker will join his staff for next season as head coach. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Becker has been onside with Team Djokovic in Marbella, Spain, in the pre-Christmas rush before his new client heads off to the Abu Dhabi exhibition starting on Thursday to begin his 2014 season,

“I can’t analyse games on television and then the next day be a coach,” Becker has told Bild daily.

“At this level, it is the little that decide whether you win the tournament or finish second.”

While many commentators have questioned the appointment of the busy Becker to the role of head coach, the German who has never coached anyone before, says he is up to the new challenge.

But questions have been raised askiing if a personality of Becker’s world-famed stature will be willing to deal in banal coaching duties which include booking practise courts, hooking up with tournament transportation, confirming hotel reservations and other mundane chores which Becker has never had to face.

Becker has already said he does not see himself as a hitting partner for Djokovic: “I’ll be on the court in a tracksuit and looking at the video analysis, trying to make him a better tennis player.”

Becker is expected to devote around 20 weeks per year to Djokovic on the road, with former main coach Marian Vajda willing in the rest of the season after taking a step to the background in order to reportedly spend more time with his family,