Boris Becker slams ‘faulty’ tennis system making injured players compete unlike Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal have enjoyed long careers but several players were forced to quit early due to injuries.
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Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Boris Becker (Image via X/Nadalprop, SPORTbible)
Boris Becker thinks the tennis system forces players to participate in tournaments in spite of them not being 100 percent fit. Becker said not every player is like the Big 3 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic) and that playing despite being injured could end one’s career.
Federer and Nadal enjoyed long careers as their careers spanned over two decades. Djokovic’s case is also the same though, unlike his two biggest rivals, the Serbian great has not yet hung up his racket. Federer and Nadal called time on their respective careers at the 2022 Laver Cup and the 2024 Davis Cup.
At present, there are nine Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP Tour, eight of which are mandatory events. Only the Monte Carlo Masters don’t fall under this category. In the ATP 500 events, every player has to play at least four tournaments, including one after the US Open.
There is a fault in the system. It can’t be that a half-injured player is allowed to compete in a tournament where everyone knows he’s actually not fit, so he doesn’t have the penalty at the end of the year.
Boris Becker said on the Becker Petkovic podcast
The consequences of skipping these events lead to players getting zero points, not to forget players also lose money. Becker said the tennis bodies must take steps to make players feel more secure.
Not everyone is as lucky as Djokovic and Nadal, and Federer. Most of them really have to work afterwards and enter their normal professional life.
Boris Becker added
Recently, the Djokovic-backed Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) took legal action against the tennis bodies, demanding changes in the system, including the 11-month tennis schedule. They also want an increase in prize money. Following the class-action lawsuit, the top 20 players approached the Grand Slam events to demand a better share of profits.
Novak Djokovic is uncertain if he’ll participate in next year’s Madrid Open
Novak Djokovic so far had disappointing campaigns on the clay swing. After reaching the first final of the season at the Miami Open, Djokovic fell in straight sets against Alejandro Tabilo in his Monte Carlo Masters first round. He then suffered three consecutive defeats when Matteo Arnaldi went past him in the Madrid Open second round.
It was Djokovic’s first match in Madrid since losing the semifinal against eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 season. Following the defeat, Djokovic said that he was uncertain whether he’d play in the ATP 1000 tournament in the Spanish capital the next year.
It could be. I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be.
Novak Djokovic said at the press conference
After tearing his meniscus at this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic hinted at retirement as he was unsure whether he would be coming back to Melbourne next year. The Serb last won a title at the Paris Olympics by beating Alcaraz in straight sets. Since that victory, Djokovic reached two finals: at the Shanghai Masters and the Miami Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is stuck on 99 titles and another trophy will make him the third player in the history of Men’s tennis to reach the 100-title mark after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. In Grand Slam events, Djokovic last bagged a title at the 2023 US Open. That season, he fell short of the Calendar Grand Slam because of his five-set defeat to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
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