Boris Becker applauds Novak Djokovic’s’miracle’ feat as he eyes Olympic success.
Tennis legend Boris Becker has lauded Novak Djokovic’s incredible comeback from injury to win the Serbia Open last week, describing it as a “miracle” feat. The former world number one also expressed his belief that Djokovic has his sights set on achieving further success this year, including at the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo.
Djokovic had a slow start to the 2021 tennis season, losing in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and withdrawing from the Miami Open due to a muscle tear. However, his return to the court at the Serbia Open saw him perform at his best and win the tournament without dropping a set.
Becker, who coached Djokovic from 2013 to 2016, praised the Serbian for his remarkable resilience and determination. “It’s a miracle how he recovered from his injury so quickly and came back to win a title in his home country,” he said. “That shows the kind of athlete he is.”
Djokovic has previously won bronze in singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but has yet to win a gold medal. The Olympics were originally scheduled for 2020 but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now set to take place from July 23-August 8, 2021, with many top tennis players expected to compete.
Becker also spoke about the current state of men’s tennis and how Djokovic, along with rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, have elevated the sport to new heights. “We’re lucky to have three of the greatest players of all time playing at the same time,” he said. “It’s been a privilege to witness their careers and see how they’ve pushed each other to new levels.”
Becker himself is no stranger to Olympic success, having won gold in doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with partner Michael Stich. He believes that the Olympics play a unique role in the tennis world and offer players a chance to represent their countries on a grand stage.
“The Olympics are a very special event in the sporting calendar,” he said. “It’s a chance for players to compete for their countries and to experience something different from the regular tennis tour. I think it’s an important part of the sport, and I know Novak would love to add a gold medal to his impressive list of achievements.”
With Djokovic’s recent win at the Serbia Open, he is now in sixth place in the ATP Race to Turin, behind rising stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev. The race will determine which players qualify for the year-end ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, with the top eight players of the season competing for the prestigious title.
As Djokovic continues his bid for success this year, including at the Olympics, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can add more achievements to his already impressive resume.
