LONDON // Boris Becker said that Novak Djokovic first approached him to become his head coach the day that the Serbian lost the world No 1 ranking to Spain’s Rafael Nadal in October.
Djokovic’s announcement this week that the German six-time grand slam champion was set to become his coach was greeted with surprise, and Becker conceded it had been unexpected.
“I was approached by Novak and his manager while he was playing in Beijing,” Becker told BBC Sport on Friday. “He decided he needed somebody in his corner that had been there and done it.
“I was surprised – I didn’t expect the phone call. I was very honoured.”
Marian Vajda, who has been Djokovic’s coach for each of his six grand slam titles, will continue as part of the team, but Becker is set to assume primary responsibilities at the Australian Open, which starts on January 13.
It will be Becker’s first foray into coaching a top-level player, and he said he would put 100 per cent into it.
“This isn’t a half-hearted job. It wouldn’t be right for him or for me,” Becker said. “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 joins another former world No 1 and multiple grand slam winner, Ivan Lendl, in joining the coaching circle. The Czech-born American teamed up with Andy Murray at the start of 2012 and has since guided the British player to two major titles.
“When Ivan was appointed, I thought about what took some of these guys so long to talk about some of these all-time greats as being coaches,” Becker said.
“There was a generation that really changed tennis, and the way we played in the 1980s is not that different to how we’re playing today.”
sports@thenational.ae
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
