Boris Becker interferes with Novak Djokovic Wimbledon prep with mistake warning

Boris Becker has given his old charge Novak Djokovic a warning after winning his 23rd Grand Slam title. The retired German star used to coach the world No 1 and has waded into Djokovic’s Wimbledon preparations. Becker said the Serb needed to avoid making the same mistake he did last time he was halfway to the Calendar Grand Slam.

Djokovic made history on Sunday as he won a record 23rd men’s singles Major and simultaneously became the first man to win all four Grand Slams at least three times. With the victory, he also put himself halfway to the Calendar Grand Slam – winning all four in the same year.

The 36-year-old came within one match of the Calendar Slam back in 2021 – winning the first three of the year before losing in the US Open final. And Becker has had his say on Djokovic’s chances as he warned his old charge not to let history repeat itself.

“It would be a mistake, from his point of view, to make it obvious now,” he said of the Calendar Slam on Eurosport’s Das Gelbe vom Ball podcast. “Because you know what happened last time: He won three, was in the final and then couldn’t stand the nervous strain.”

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Becker coached Djokovic from 2013 to 2016 and urged the 36-year-old to focus on Wimbledon alone instead of winning all four Majors this year. He continued: “That’s why he should really only concentrate on Wimbledon.

“But the man wants to break records. I don’t know which one he can still break, the calendar Grand Slam in one year, that’s maybe the only one still outstanding. 100 per cent, he’s thinking, but I hope he won’t talk about it and just go out on the grass, try to win Wimbledon now, and then the US Open will come at some point.”

A three-time Wimbledon champion himself, Becker said Djokovic was the heavy favourite to pick up his 24th Grand Slam crown at SW19. And the 55-year-old couldn’t see any of the young players truly challenging the world No 1 just yet.

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“As an athlete, I think it’s a mistake to talk too loudly about the big goals, to tell the public what you’re up to. Talking about it for a long time after a victory is fine, but before a victory, it’s often a mistake, and often you don’t win that,” he said.

“That’s why: Rule in silence, train and then win, and then you can talk about your victory for weeks. I think at Wimbledon, he is still in a state of euphoria, he is on cloud nine, and for me, he is the clear top favourite.

“But then comes the summer break, and he has to ask himself when he has 23 Grand Slams, or 24 with a Wimbledon win: Where is the journey going? ‘I can’t and don’t want to play forever.’ He also answered this question after the press conference, according to the motto: ‘When I stop winning, then the question arises.’

“‘But as long as I win Grand Slam tournaments, I want to do that until the end of my days,’  so as long as he keeps winning, as long as he is still playing for the big titles, he will keep going. At some point, the younger generation will overtake him, but I don’t see that happening for a while yet.”

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