Boris Becker Reflects on Novak Djokovic’s Support, Admits to Losing ’95 Percent of Friends’ After Prison Sentence: “With Him There’s No Pretense”

Novak Djokovic is at Wimbledon to chase his eighth title in the tournament. He last reached the final here in 2024 but lost the title to Carlos Alcaraz.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion denied him the Calendar Grand Slam in 2023 by overcoming him in five sets in the Wimbledon final. It was Nick Kyrgios whom Djokovic defeated to win his seventh title in the grass-court Major back in 2022.

At the HM Prison Huntercombe, there was one person who was emotionally invested while watching the match. It was fellow former World No.1 and his former coach, Boris Becker.

The German was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison (served eight months) by a London court for hiding £2.5 million ($3.3 million) in assets and loans to avoid paying off debts after his bankruptcy. Because of this, Becker, during an interview with The Telegraph, said he lost almost every friend, but not Djokovic.

I would say that 90 per cent of my former circle is gone. Probably even 95 per cent. That doesn’t mean I don’t say hello – I see their numbers and I write them a friendly ‘No’.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who coached under Becker from 2013 to 2016, strongly defended Becker and also invited his family to his matches.

For him not to turn his back speaks to his character. With him, there’s no pretense. It’s powerful to call the most successful tennis player of all time your friend. We must have done something good together, apart from winning tennis matches, to feel this way about each other.

Boris Becker added

Becker was released in December 2022 and deported to Germany. He is banned from entering the UK.

Novak Djokovic on Serena Williams’ comeback

This Wimbledon will mark the return of a tennis legend. Serena Williams, the 23-time singles, 14-time doubles, and two-time mixed doubles champion in Grand Slam events, will be competing in the grass-court Major for the first time since 2022. Novak Djokovic, in the pre-tournament press conference at SW19, was asked about Williams’ comeback.

First and foremost, what she’s doing is inspirational, and it’s epic. That’s what I told her. I always admired her career, her journey, her story. Of course, Venus’, as well. For her to come back after years of being absent from the tour, two children later, and to give so much effort to, not just for her own satisfaction or coming back on the tour, but also to give all of us a pleasure of seeing her back on the court – in singles as well as doubles – is remarkable.

Williams has already played her first official match. She returned to competition at the Queen’s Club Championships, where she played alongside Victoria Mboko in doubles. But their campaign ended after the Canadian teenager suffered an injury during her singles match.

The 44-year-old later paired up with Karolina Muchova for the Berlin Open but lost their opening-round match. At Wimbledon, Williams will also be playing doubles with her sister, Venus Williams. The 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion will face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the first round. The Williams sisters last clinched a Grand Slam doubles title at Wimbledon in 2016.

Williams will kick off her singles campaign against Maya Joint, while Djokovic will face Wu Yibing. The Serb is chasing his eighth title at SW19.

Last year, eventual champion Jannik Sinner ended his run in the semifinals. Djokovic has already played a Grand Slam final this season. At the Australian Open, the former ATP No.1, after overcoming the four-time Grand Slam champion in the semifinals, lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the championship clash.

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Defends Prize Money Boycott With Wimbledon Rocked by Player Protest