AFTER splitting with Novak Djokovic, Boris Becker said the former world number one was not practising as hard over the past six months.
Serbian star Djokovic and coach Becker parted ways on Tuesday after three years and six grand-slam titles.
With Becker in his coaching box, Djokovic doubled his tally of majors to 12, while victory in this year's French Open saw the 29-year-old complete a career Grand Slam and hold all four of his sport's premier singles titles at once.
But Djokovic suffered a dip in form as he surrendered the ATP singles top ranking to Andy Murray.
And while he enjoyed three successful years in his corner, Becker - himself a six-time grand-slam champion - admitted coaching Djokovic had become more challenging.
"It was mutual," Becker told Sky Sports. "A decision like this does not happen overnight. It is a progress.
"I think the last six months have been challenging on many levels. Our hands were tied a little bit because we couldn't do the work we wanted to do.
"He didn't spend as much time on the practice court in the last six months as he should have and he knows that.
"Success like this doesn't happen by pushing a button. Success like this doesn't just happen by showing up at a tournament. You have to work your bottom off because the opposition does the same."
"I don't know if he had any personal problems based on what I know," Becker continued. "He is happily married. He has got a beautiful son.
"But the profession of a tennis player is probably the most selfish one in sports because it has to be about you and he is the first to say he is a family man so of course his wife and the rest of his family had to take back seats.
"That can't be forever and I think that is what he meant. I don't think there were problems. I have met his wife - she is lovely and very, very supportive of her husband.
"But they don't spend enough time together. I had it too, 20 years ago. It is just the nature of the beast, being a tennis player."
Despite being overhauled by Murray, Becker is confident Djokovic will return to the summit of men's tennis in 2017.
"I am sure the fact that he lost the No 1 ranking to Andy Murray is going to hurt," he said. "I know the US Open loss in the final against Stan [Wawrinka] hurt. I think that is what he needed maybe in a funny way was to lose a little bit, to realise what it is like to lose, because he hasn't been losing for two and a half years.
"I'm convinced - and I am his number one fan for next year - that he will come back and regain that No 1 position and regain being the most dominant player in his sport.
"But he has got to go back to work. He has to go back to the office and practice these hours and refocus on what made him strong in the first place."
Astro Arena
Wed Dec 07 2016
Boris Becker (pic) said the former world number one was not practising as hard over the past six months. - AFP photo / GLYN KIRK
Kedudukan Malaysia perlu dilihat secara menyeluruh
Laporan Indeks Kebebasan Media Dunia 2024 yang disiarkan Wartawan Tanpa Sempadan (RSF) mengenai kedudukan terkini Malaysia perlu dilihat dalam konteks yang menyeluruh.
MB zahir terima kasih atas komitmen PM bangunkan Kedah
Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor menzahirkan ucapan terima kasih dan penghargaan di atas kesediaan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mendengar dan meluluskan permintaan Kedah berkaitan projek-projek pembangunan di negeri ini.
PM arah TPM cari solusi tingkat pelajar TVET
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim turut meminta TPM, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian dalam menangani kekurangan pelajar TVET bagi memeuhi permintaan industri berteknologi tinggi.
Masalah di Kedah selesai dalam tempoh dua bulan- PM
Kerajaan Persekutuan memberikan komitmen untuk menoktahkan masalah miskin tegar membabitlan 2,500 keluarga di negeri Kedah dalam tempoh dua bulan.
China padam impian Malaysia beraksi di pentas final
Hasrat Malaysia untuk menamatkan kemarau 32 tahun menjulang Piala Thomas tidak kesampaian apabila tewas kepada tuan rumah China, 1-3 dalam aksi suku akhir edisi 2024.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 4 Mei 2024.
14 terkorban, banjir dan tanah runtuh di Sulawesi Selatan
Pasukan mencari dan menyelamat kebangsaan Indonesia (Basarnas) mengesahkan 14 terkorban susulan banjir dan tanah runtuh yang melanda Kabupaten Luwu di wilayah Sulawesi Selatan pada Jumaat.
Enam cedera serangan Dron Russia di wilayah Kharkiv, Dnipro
Russia melancarkan serangan dron ke atas wilayah Kharkiv dan Dnipro di Ukraine, sehingga menyebabkan sekurang-kurangnya enam orang cedera dan kerosakan infrastruktur kritikal pada bangunan komersial dan kediaman, kata pegawai wilayah.
Lebih 80 migran diselamatkan di luar pantai Libya
87 migran termasuk wanita dan kanak-kanak diselamatkan pihak berkuasa Itali di laut Mediterranean, di luar pantai Libya.
Bot dinaiki mereka berlayar dari Zawiya, Libya dikatakan penuh sesak selain dimasuki air ketika dipintas pihak berkuasa.
Bot dinaiki mereka berlayar dari Zawiya, Libya dikatakan penuh sesak selain dimasuki air ketika dipintas pihak berkuasa.
Kendall rasai sendiri ujian jet pejuang F-16 menggunakan AI
Sebuah jet pejuang F-16 bagi tujuan ujian yang membawa Setiausaha Tentera Udara Frank Kendall mencipta sejarah apabila dikawal sepenuhnya teknologi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI).
Kendall berkata beliau cukup yakin dengan keupayaan AI termasuk melancarkan serangan.
Kendall berkata beliau cukup yakin dengan keupayaan AI termasuk melancarkan serangan.
Boris Becker "temui dirinya semula" ketika dalam penjara
Bintang tenis Boris Becker berkata sepanjang berada di dalam penjara ia telah banyak memberikannya pengajaran serta mengubah dirinya, lapor Agensi Berita Jerman (dpa).
Bekas juara tenis Boris Becker dipenjara 2 tahun kerana muflis
Juara Grand Slam enam kali berusia 54 tahun itu didapati bersalah atas empat pertuduhan di bawah Akta Insolvensi Britain.
Burt Reynolds meninggal dunia akibat serangan jantung
Reynolds, yang berusia 82 tahun itu menghembuskan nafas terakhir di sebuah hospital di Florida, di sisi keluarganya.