Novak Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker reckons that he could have beaten him on grass courts

Novak Djokovic is chasing a record-equaling eight Wimbledon title.

Novak Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker reckons that he could have beaten him on grass courts

Boris Becker and Novak Djokovic (Image Courtesy : Sky Sports)

Boris Becker, the flamboyant former tennis professional turned pundit, believes he would have had a good shot at beating the seven-time Wimbledon champion if he were in his prime.

Novak Djokovic is well on his way to equaling Roger Federer‘s record tally of eight Wimbledon singles titles at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. Thereby etching his name in the record books as one of the all-time greatest grass-court players. Former triple Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, with his usual swagger, feels that he would have fancied his chances against Novak Djokovic on grass as well as indoor courts.

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Speaking exclusively to Sport Bild, the German weekly sports magazine, the 55-year-old said, “My game against him (Novak) would have involved a high level of risk, but I could have beaten him on grass.”

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Elaborating further, the six-time Grand Slam title winner remarked that he stood no chance against the Serb on clay. He also reckoned that he had a fairly good chance of beating his protégé on indoor courts.

“I wouldn’t have had a chance against him on clay,” said Becker, who coached Novak Djokovic from 2013 to 2016. “But on grass and indoors I would have played the way I just played – with a lot of pressure and power. I would have tried to play the game very quickly and give him little time,” he further continued.

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Boris Becker says Novak Djokovic is like water

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Novak Djokovic (Image Courtesy: Reuters)

Lauding Djokovic’s amazing ability to adapt and alter his game suitably based on the opponent’s pedigree, Becker labeled it Djokovic’s ‘greatest talent‘. Becker, the youngest-ever men’s Wimbledon Singles champion, equated the World No. 2 to the fluidity of water.

“I like to compare it to water – water finds its way, and it’s almost impossible to stop it. The same goes for Djokovic – if he’s into a game, you as an opponent can’t get out of the whirlpool,” remarked the German.

A plethora of records await the great Serb as he embarks on his 18th Wimbledon expedition in 2023. Victory on July 16th at the grandest tennis stage will see him, not just level rival Roger Federer’s Wimbledon tally of eight titles but also put him level with Margaret Court‘s record of 24 Grand Slam Singles titles.

Djokovic, who is unbeaten on Centre Court since 2013, faces Australian Jordan Thompson in his second-round match.

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