Novak Djokovic is even hungrier to win a tenth Australian Open title this yr following his deportation from Australia 12 months in the past, believes his former coach Boris Becker.
Becker, 55, who was himself deported from Britain final month after being launched from jail, informed Eurosport that Djokovic’s high precedence in Melbourne over the subsequent fortnight was to equal Rafael Nadal’s haul of twenty-two grand slam titles.
“When you have tasted gold then you are not satisfied with silver,” former world No.1 Becker, who coached Djokovic between 2013-16, mentioned.
“Deep inside his soul, Novak wants to become the most successful tennis player of all-time.
“At the second that is clearly Nadal and this Nadal report is the best precedence for Djokovic.”
Having arrived in Australia this time last year unvaccinated against COVID-19, the nine-times Melbourne champion was deported amid a backlash from angry Australians who had endured some of the world’s toughest lockdown measures.
Now back after his three-year visa ban was waived, Djokovic has won over the fans who cheered him on to win the Adelaide International title last week — his 11th trophy in the country.
“I’m sure this wave (of euphoria) will spill over to Melbourne,” Becker mentioned.
“I additionally do not assume that the followers there may have any issues.
“It (deportation last year) makes him hotter and more aggressive because he realises he cannot play tennis forever and time is up at some point.
“His disappointment a yr in the past was enormous and that may make him even higher this season on the Australian Open.”
Becker had a far more turbulent 2022 than Djokovic, with the six-times grand slam winner jailed for two years and six months by a London court in April for hiding hundreds of thousands of pounds of assets after he was declared bankrupt.
He is now living in Germany following his release from prison and deportation last month.
“Over the New Year holidays, I managed to tug again. I solely got here again a short while in the past however up to now 4 weeks I managed to acclimatise myself,” Becker said.
He managed to watch tennis while in prison.
“I missed the proximity to the game as a result of tennis in spite of everything is my best ardour,” Becker mentioned.
“I couldn’t watch each match however I bought (broadcasters) BBC and ITV.”
“I watched each match of Wimbledon and noticed the highlights of the US Open.”
