Becker to coach Djokovic

[Front242]

Let's hope Novak doesn't end up with 52 kids with different mothers by the end of the year thanks to Boris "insight".

 

[Riotbeard]

Let's hope Novak doesn't end up with 52 kids with different mothers by the end of the year thanks to Boris "insight".

Boris did have an off court slam count not to be reckoned with :lolz:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

This is strange news. I doubt whether this will click.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Thoroughly deserved, too!

Oh wait, it isn't.... :nono

Debatable. Maybe constant showing-up in finals made it through. Novak was always in top-end. Nadal had some bad moments in beginning of some tournaments.

It's really not debatable.

Number of slams won: Nadal.
Number of Masters 1000 events won: Nadal.
Number of tournaments won: Nadal.
Year end ranking: Nadal.
Win/loss record: Nadal.
Head to head: Even, with Nadal winning their two slam matches.

I'm honestly not sure how that's even close to being debatable. Just ask Djokovic which year he'd rather have.

 

[brokenshoelace]

As far as the news itself goes, I don't know what to make of it. There's nothing clearly "missing" in Novak's game that I feel needs to be rectified, at least not based on his run last fall. I also don't know what Boris would be adding, whether mentally, physically, or tactically, or whether something needs to be added to begin with.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Thoroughly deserved, too!

Oh wait, it isn't.... :nono

Debatable. Maybe constant showing-up in finals made it through. Novak was always in top-end. Nadal had some bad moments in beginning of some tournaments.

It's really not debatable.

Nadal is not even the best Spanish player of the year. How can he be considered
best player of the year in the world? Read article below.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/12/50/Robredo-Named-APT-Spanish-Player-Of-Year.aspx

 

[herios]

Thoroughly deserved, too!

Oh wait, it isn't.... :nono

Debatable. Maybe constant showing-up in finals made it through. Novak was always in top-end. Nadal had some bad moments in beginning of some tournaments.

It's really not debatable.

Nadal is not even the best Spanish player of the year. How can he be considered
best player of the year in the world? Read article below.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/12/50/Robredo-Named-APT-Spanish-Player-Of-Year.aspx

I raed this yesterday, these awards are clearly not handed out by titles count criteria.

 

[Moxie]

As far as the news itself goes, I don't know what to make of it. There's nothing clearly "missing" in Novak's game that I feel needs to be rectified, at least not based on his run last fall. I also don't know what Boris would be adding, whether mentally, physically, or tactically, or whether something needs to be added to begin with.

Well, someone mentioned work at the net, where Boris was very fine, and Novak could use some improvement. But why would he become head coach, esp. with no experience? That seems surprising.

 

[Moxie]

Thoroughly deserved, too!

Oh wait, it isn't.... :nono

Debatable. Maybe constant showing-up in finals made it through. Novak was always in top-end. Nadal had some bad moments in beginning of some tournaments.

It's really not debatable.

Nadal is not even the best Spanish player of the year. How can he be considered
best player of the year in the world? Read article below.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/12/50/Robredo-Named-APT-Spanish-Player-Of-Year.aspx

I raed this yesterday, these awards are clearly not handed out by titles count criteria.

That's the Spanish press corps, and I think it's a fine choice. You can't give it to Nadal every year. But we promised to leave this thread about Djokovic, and if we want to debate this, we should start a new thread, in fairness.

 

[DarthFed]

It seems a weird match. Sure Nole might improve his average net game and atrocious overheads but I think you hire a coach for more than that. Becker was a great player of course but completely different style, and then throw in way different personalities and no coaching experience for Boris and it doesn't make much sense. As Kieran said I don't think Boris is going to help Djokovic's mental approach and that's been Novak's main problem the last couple years. Inconsistent play within matches and poor play when it's mattered most.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I would not write-off Becker's mental approach just yet, because he has the benefit of hindsight. He is not a player anymore, those days are gone. He had a lot of time in his hands to analyze what could have been in certain situations. So , how he was then is not how he is now. I remember Lendl crumbling like a dry oatmeal cookie in a lot of situations, but today, those can be used as experiences when coaching Andy. It can even be more beneficial than saying " Look, I was like a rock, and so should you be..."

 

[Kieran]

That's a good point, Murat, and I know that on many occasions Nole's brittleness and lack of stomach for the fight reminds me of Becker, especially at this year's Wimbledon final, but on other occasions too. But he has much more desire than Becker had to be the best, and that's significant. Becker won two slams by the age of 18 - and 4 more in the next 13 years. He seemed as happy when he invented the loser's lap of honour as he did winning, sometimes...

 

[isabelle]

Wow, I thought Fibak got the job and Becker shows up, what a surprise. Hope they can work hard together, don't know if Boris can help Nole to win RG !!!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't want to open a separate thread for this. Djokovic's Schedule for 2014 remains
unchanged from his schedule in 2013. It consists of 16 torunaments; 4 Grand Slams +
8 Mandatory Masters + Monte Carlo 1000 + Dubai 500 + Beijing 500 + Davis Cup.
As before, he is not playing in any of the lowly ATP 250 tournaments.

From the quote below, you can see which coach accompanies him to which of the
above tournaments.

"Becker joins Marian Vajda, Miljan Amanovic and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch on the coaching team, and will travel with the World No. 2 to the Australian Open, Dubai, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, the US Open, Shanghai, Paris and London.

Djokovic will begin working with Becker as he prepares for the Australian Open, which starts 13 January. Vajda will continue working in Novak's team, and the Slovak will accompany him to Indian Wells, Madrid, Toronto and Beijing. "

 

[Moxie]

I don't exactly remember, but someone may help here: wasn't Vajda away from the tour for some length of time for personal reasons some time in '12-'13? Just thinking that, if that's the case, it won't be so abrupt for Novak not to have him around all the time.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't exactly remember, but someone may help here: wasn't Vajda away from the tour for some length of time for personal reasons some time in '12-'13? Just thinking that, if that's the case, it won't be so abrupt for Novak not to have him around all the time.

Actually, according to the quote Vajda will be around all the time. It is just that in the
four tournaments listed Vajda will be the acting head coach as Becker will not be around.

I don't know the answer to your question.

 

[Moxie]

I don't exactly remember, but someone may help here: wasn't Vajda away from the tour for some length of time for personal reasons some time in '12-'13? Just thinking that, if that's the case, it won't be so abrupt for Novak not to have him around all the time.

Actually, according to the quote Vajda will be around all the time. It is just that in the
four tournaments listed Vajda will be the acting head coach as Becker will not be around.

I don't know the answer to your question.

There is an article in tennis.com that includes this:

Vajda will accompany Djokovic to only four tournaments (Indian Wells, Madrid, Toronto, and Beijing), while Becker will be the on-site coach of record for a dozen events, including all the majors.

Given how close and successful Djokovic and the diligent, low-key Vajda have been, you have to wonder what precipitated this move. There’s one clue, in comments by Vajda that were released by the Associated Press at the same time as remarks made by Becker and Djokovic. “I realized that Novak needed a new head coach in order for him to continue improving certain parts of the game,” Vajda declared. “In the same time, I will have more time for my family.”

Do you have different information about Vajda's time-commitment?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The quote in my post comes form ATP website article about Becker-Djokovic combo.
It does not explicitly say that Vajda will be absent in the other 12 tournaments; but, it
may be the case. I don't know.

 

[Moxie]

Good point, Riotbeard! Slowly...withdrawing...the...claws.... :snigger

Keeping it Novak centred, I agree that fresh input can fizz up a chaps routine, and perhaps Becker can help with the net game. I read on the Telegraph that Boris could help Novak with the mental side, toughness and fortitude, etc. How? Becker was similarly brittle as Novak.

It's a surprising appointment, I must admit, though it's fitting a trend of modern greats appealing to past greats - none of whom seem to have any coaching experience - for help. Connors ultimately came short with Roddick, but Lendl has been a huge success with Murray. Maybe Becker has more to offer than it looks.

And maybe Nole can give Boris some advice on diet! :Lolz: Old Boris looks like he swallowed an old duffel coat...

I hope it's for a new strategic voice, not psychology. When Novak pulls it together, he is much psychologically strong that Becker. It's weird timing. Djokovic seemed to have more going for him in his rivalry with Nadal after the fall than since the 2012 Aussie Open. He should be feeling confident, not looking to Becker for a mental edge...

It has to be strategic. But I agree with you…the timing is odd. He was carrying so much momentum from the end of the year. One has to wonder if this crew change/new addition is well-considered, right now. It seems to display a weakness, just when Djokovic was in a position of strength. And Boris has no track record as a coach. I do wonder why they don't go back to that doctor who was such a motivator for Novak.

 

[DarthFed]

Nole finished 2012 well but that didn't mean anything for 2013 which had to be considered a major disappointment. I don't think Nole should be resting on his laurels after being dreadful in the big matches the last 2 years. But the question is what does Becker really stand to add for him. Nole could certainly improve at net and it's impossible to be worse at overheads. Perhaps there could be improvement in his serve though he actually started serving above average near the end of last year. It will be interesting to see if it works.