Interview with Tennis legend Boris Becker, the coach of Novak Djokovic
An eminent Kolkata journalist Gautam Bhattacharya after seven and half months of wait get the chance of interviewing his childhood favourite Boris Becker, who won six grand slam titles and 49 doubles. It was a stormy 25-minute interview, as per the journalist’ account, “ the last seven scheduled appointments did not materialize.” But, this time Becker himself called his Indian business partner and offered only 20 minutes for the interview. The journalist said that Boris did a charity to him.
However, when the interview ripened in the midway Becker expressed his thoughts on a range of subjects from his personal life, to Tennis, football, and cricket. Questions like why did the relationship between him and Tennis beauty Steffi Graf turn to wed? What would happen if he was the coach of Ivan Lendl? How much he like Roger Federer, the personality when he sees the ace Tennis star in the locker room? And for the obvious reason what is his observation on Novak Djokovic.
The interview started at Indian Standard Time (IST) 8 pm, Published on Friday edition of Anandbazar Patrika. Excerpts….
Journalist: I heard your apartment is located very close to the Wimbledon court. You played seven grand slam finals there. Does it not make you nostalgic?
Becker: I never look back to the past. But, when I pass the Centre Court driving my car there is no way to ignore the memorabilia completely. I always try not to trap in nostalgia. I live in the present. I never watch my old video. Though, the influence is always there. When I attend various tournaments as a coach of Djokovic, the old fans of mine always give me the reminder about my presence on the court, my shots, my attitude. However, I can’t ignore the truth. Whatever I am today that is because of the glorious past. I must admit that my past is behind me.
Journalist: How do your children react?
Becker: They have their own friends. They are proud of me, Sometimes they tell their friends, do you know who is my father? My father is Boris Backer. Besides this, in social media everybody is posting something about me every time. Some people are giving status while some are commenting on it. Then my children come to me and ask, ‘ daddy we have won so many! But, we never knew that.’
Journalist: Your presence in the court was like a mini Las Vegas. Dramatic, flamboyant and entertaining. Fans named you shots ‘Boom boom shots’, ‘Becker blacker’ and ‘Becker shuffle’.
Becker: There are many people, who told that my on court presence and playing style used to entertain them. But, during my playing day’s I never realized that. Actually, there is no way to understand what people are thinking about you. Though I knew that fans gave a nickname to my every shot. Even today, they discuss those shots. I am obliged but never let this appreciation get into my head because it is very dangerous.
Journalist: Football legend Pele was once surprised watching his own game. He was surprised because of his ability to take right decisions even when he was sprinting with the ball. How could he become a holder of a computerized brain in his subconscious mind?
Becker: You just stop thinking and start doing. Instinct is an interpretation. Football and Tennis are a very fast game, You can’t think first then react. You have to both at the same time. Even, sometimes you have to stop thinking. Those decisions taken infarction of seconds will make the difference between you victory and defeat. When you are analyzing your performance after the match, then you discover you have taken all your decisions without thinking.
Journalist: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer. Among these three 2014 World Cup champion who is the best?
Becker: This question is only good for comparison. All three played a vital role in Germany’s world cup victory. I have all the qualities these Trio have. But, for me the best is Manuel Neuer. In the final at Maracana, if Neuer does not have the unbelievable defensive technique, we never won the world cup. If Messi could score, there was no chance of making a comeback.
Journalist: You are a Bayern Munich board member. You love football. Can you tell me who is the best footballer – Messi or Ronaldo?
Becker: In my opinion, if you want to join the elite list of great, then you have to win the World Cup for your country. Pele, Maradona and Franz Beckenbauer have won the World Cup. In 1990, when Germany won the World Cup, Lothar Matthaus was the best footballer in the world. If Messi could win it for Argentina, no doubt, he could have been the greatest footballer. But, he failed.
Journalist: Do you know anybody in Indian cricket circles?
Becker: Kapil Dev is my friend. We use to call each other friend. We have spent a lot of quality time at Laureus World Sports Awards. Since the meeting, we have become friends. If he comes to London then he meets me. Similarly, if I go In Delhi then I meet him.
Journalist: Have you ever heard about Sachin Tendulkar?
Becker: What are you saying? Only four weeks ago we had a chat at an Italian restaurant during the Wimbledon. I was eating, suddenly I have seen Sachin, then eye contact. Both of us left our chair. We praised each other, had a chat over a glass of wine and then went back to each other’s chair.
Journalist: How did, you know Sachin? Germans don’t follow cricket!
Becker: I am not a typical German. I went to India for a couple of times. I followed his career, watched his game on TV. I am a Sachin fan.
Journalist: We have beaten Ivan Lendl many times and maintained Djokovic. Is there any similarity between them?
Becker: Lendl was the first professional Tennis player in the world. He is the first man to train in a gym. The first man to think about racquet technology and sports shoe. He used to keep the best assistant surrounding him to bring out the best out of him. Djokovic is as unbelievable as Lendl. He may not be as talented as Roger Federer and not as talented as Nadal at clay court. But, he is the perfectionist. His diet, strategy, selection of racquet everything are perfect. He follows a lifestyle that made him number one. Novak is simply the best.
Journalist: If you are the coach of Lendl, what would happen?
Becker: I could offer him what he did not have in his arsenal. If I was the coach of Lendl, it would be a picture perfect combination.
Journalist: What were the things we would bring in Lendl’s play?
Becker: I would bring instinct, spontaneous play and emotional approach to his game. He can thrive at the Wimbledon Centre Court with all these things.
Journalist: Federer is already 34, he is still playing, do you support his decision to continue playing?
Becker: I admire Federer. I did not respect any other players like Roger Federer. He has been the most successful player ever. He has almost won two grand slams this year. Until he is taking retirement, he will always have the chance to win the grand slam. At least Boris Becker would never bet against Roger Federer.
Journalist: Just imagine the 1985 Wimbledon men’s singles final, Roger Federer is facing a 17-year-old Germany boy!
Becker: Roger loves all those players who take the control of the game from the baseline. He does not like those who often run close to the net. My style resembles Federer. So, I don’t know whether I win or it, but I can assure you, I would be the toughest of his toughest competitor.
Journalist: Is Federer all-time greatest?
Becker: It is difficult to do a comparison among different eras. But, what I have seen in Roger, he is a very very special player. He is 34, but still there is nobody who can challenge Novak except him. After I come back in coaching, I enter locker room often in every marquee tournament. I get the opportunity to watch Roger from close range. So, after watching him at lockerroom I am just mesmerized. Just, how he prepare himself, how he select his shots, his instinct sometimes makes me think he is not from this planet.
Journalist: The final question, Your Indian fans have one complaint against you?
Becker: Why?
Journalist: Everybody thought that you and Steffi Graf would make a ‘love double’ like Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert. Both of you had won the 1989 doubles. But, finally Steffi got married to Andre Agassi. Why did you not show any love for Graf?
Becker: (With a smile in the face) I must say, I heard it a couple of times. There are a few people who always asked me this question. But, personally, I believe marriage between Agassi and Steffi is made in heaven. One is arguably the greatest ever women Tennis player and other is great champion is men’s single. The knot of their marriage is very strong. They are a very happy couple with two children. I wish them stay forever like this.