Boris Becker at Roland Garros

[Mastoor]

I don't seem to find past players forum, so I'm posting this here.

I am not talking about Becker in No1e's team at RG, as such he lost two finals. After someone mentioned that he was hired into No1e's team because like No1e he tried for a long time to win French Open, I had a look at his record as a player there.

Shockingly, in 1991 when he was 23 he had last serious campaign when he lost semifinal to Agassi in 4 sets. Apparently, after that loss he gave up on Roland Garros and he played it only two more times, playing 5 more matches winning 3 losing 2.

Are there any Becker fans here, do you have vivid memory of why he gave up so easily?

 

[Mastoor]

In fact, looking at his career statistics, you can see that once he turned 24 Becker gave up on any other slam except Wimbledon. The only exceptions are USO 1995 and right after that AO 1996 which he won.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Becker_career_statistics

 

[britbox]

He had a lot of injuries Mastoor - I think that was largely the reason for skipping the French, and Wimbledon will have been a bigger tournament for him. One AO was missed for the birth his child.

 

[Denis]

Djokovic lost three finals at RG.

I like Becker, he is there for the mental aspect, not to tell Djokovic how to play on clay. Nobody is a better clay courter outside Nadal than Djokovic.

 

[Mastoor]

He had a lot of injuries Mastoor - I think that was largely the reason for skipping the French, and Wimbledon will have been a bigger tournament for him. One AO was missed for the birth his child.

There is a pattern. In years after 1991 his best results, with hardly any exceptions, were at Wimbledon and in last 3 tournaments of the year being Stockholm/Paris/WTF. I'd say it is very unlikely for a player to be injured before Wimbledon and in between Wimbledon and then Stockholm and that way for many years.

 

[Mastoor]

Djokovic lost three finals at RG.

I like Becker, he is there for the mental aspect, not to tell Djokovic how to play on clay. Nobody is a better clay courter outside Nadal than Djokovic.

He lacked on mental aspect as a player himself, how he could help No1e around it? Besides, No1e wasn't afraid of Wawrinka for years until Becker joined the team.

 

[Moxie]

He lacked on mental aspect as a player himself, how he could help No1e around it? Besides, No1e wasn't afraid of Wawrinka for years until Becker joined the team.

I'm guessing you're saying you aren't in favor of Becker on Nole's team? In terms of Stan, he's improved in the last couple of years, so I don't know that Novak is "afraid" of him so much as, on a top form day, Wawrinka has gotten him at a couple of big moments. (He's also improved over Federer and Nadal.) Overall, Djokovic has improved on/equalled his 2011 level on Boris's watch. And I agree with Denis that he's there for the mental aspect. (Also probably net play, strategy and serve.) Becker may have been too much of a playboy in his own era, injured and whatever, but he's probably comfortable in the role of elder statesman on Novak's team. He's not the reason that Nole has yet to crack his RG riddle, if that's your concern.

 

[Mastoor]

I'm guessing you're saying you aren't in favor of Becker on Nole's team? In terms of Stan, he's improved in the last couple of years, so I don't know that Novak is "afraid" of him so much as, on a top form day, Wawrinka has gotten him at a couple of big moments. (He's also improved over Federer and Nadal.) Overall, Djokovic has improved on/equalled his 2011 level on Boris's watch. And I agree with Denis that he's there for the mental aspect. (Also probably net play, strategy and serve.) Becker may have been too much of a playboy in his own era, injured and whatever, but he's probably comfortable in the role of elder statesman on Novak's team. He's not the reason that Nole has yet to crack his RG riddle, if that's your concern.

He didn't even have to improve at all against Nadal who's barely a shadow of his old self.

As for Federer, No1e did show improvement in their last month match (when before that?) but I take it is because of all the experience, success and as a result self confidence accumulated, not because of Becker.

With Wawrinka, No1e's game is often too passive to give all the credits to Wawrinka's improvements. That applies to both AO2014 and RG2015 matches when wawrinka won.

 

[Moxie]

He didn't even have to improve at all against Nadal who's barely a shadow of his old self.

As for Federer, No1e did show improvement in their last month match (when before that?) but I take it is because of all the experience, success and as a result self confidence accumulated, not because of Becker.

With Wawrinka, No1e's game is often too passive to give all the credits to Wawrinka's improvements. That applies to both AO2014 and RG2015 matches when wawrinka won.

Sorry, I meant it was Wawrinka's game that had improved over Nadal and Federer, even before Rafa's slide...so my point was increased confidence against top players. I won't disagree with you that Nole may have been guilty of getting passive and expecting Wawrinka to burn out or back down in those specific matches. I think in both cases, especially in RG last year, he was protecting the win, not actually going for it. Rather uncharacteristic of Djokovic, but he had a big stake in both. I do think he underestimated Wawrinka. He gave him some air for his confidence that allowed Stan to swing pretty freely. That said, Stan was on a hot streak. His SF v. Roger was very impressive. I would be cautious about denigrating that performance. You'll start to sound like some Fed fans who believe all of his losses in his prime were on his racquet, and the guy on the other side of the net was just a lucky git. :whistle:

 

[Mastoor]

Sorry, I meant it was Wawrinka's game that had improved over Nadal and Federer, even before Rafa's slide...so my point was increased confidence against top players. I won't disagree with you that Nole may have been guilty of getting passive and expecting Wawrinka to burn out or back down in those specific matches. I think in both cases, especially in RG last year, he was protecting the win, not actually going for it. Rather uncharacteristic of Djokovic, but he had a big stake in both. I do think he underestimated Wawrinka. He gave him some air for his confidence that allowed Stan to swing pretty freely. That said, Stan was on a hot streak. His SF v. Roger was very impressive. I would be cautious about denigrating that performance. You'll start to sound like some Fed fans who believe all of his losses in his prime were on his racquet, and the guy on the other side of the net was just a lucky git. :whistle:

I agree with all you said. What is now in bold above all suggests that no1e wasn't prepared by his coach (Becker) for the matches in Wawrinka.

 

[Moxie]

I agree with all you said. What is now in bold above all suggests that no1e wasn't prepared by his coach (Becker) for the matches in Wawrinka.

I'm glad you agree with that, as I worried you'd be defensive. Having said that, let me take it a step further: I also think that Novak underestimated Nishikori in the USO SF 2014. I believe that Kei was fairly knackered, having played long matches and very late nights. I think Nole was looking beyond that match to the final, and Kei got him. In four! Nishikori played very well, but that's one that's hard to explain. Also, with Becker in the box. So let me ask you again...as well as things are going, are you saying that you think Djokovic should ditch Becker? And, specifically, before the French Open? If so, to replace him with anyone, or go with the old team?