Boris Becker, the tennis legend and former coach of Novak Djokovic, has responded to comments made by Djokovic during the 2025 Australian Open in which the Serbian star appeared to criticize “experts.” The 24-time Grand Slam champion made headlines after calling out some pundits and commentators for their analysis of his performance, particularly regarding his injury and form during the tournament.
Djokovic’s remarks were directed at those who speculated about his physical condition after he pulled out of the Australian Open during his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev due to a left hamstring injury. The injury first became a topic of concern during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz, but despite a visible struggle, Djokovic managed to secure the victory before withdrawing in the next round.
Following his exit, Djokovic expressed frustration with the media and tennis “experts” who questioned the severity of his injury. He felt that some analysts doubted his honesty and speculated whether the injury was as serious as reported. Without naming individuals, Djokovic suggested that certain commentators were not in a position to understand the challenges of playing through pain at the highest level.
Becker, who coached Djokovic from 2013 to 2016 and helped him win six Grand Slam titles, addressed these comments during his appearance as a pundit for Eurosport. While Becker acknowledged Djokovic’s frustration, he defended the role of analysts and commentators in tennis.
Becker expressed empathy for Djokovic’s situation but emphasized that those offering analysis, including former players like himself, were simply doing their jobs. He highlighted the fact that experts, particularly former players, are often hired to offer insights based on their own experiences and knowledge of the sport.
Becker commented:
“Novak has every right to express how he feels, especially when it comes to his body and his experiences on the court. But we as experts, who have played the game at the highest level, have our perspective as well. We’re here to analyze and offer insights that may help fans understand the complexities of the sport, and that includes discussing physical conditions and performance.”
He also reiterated his admiration for Djokovic, calling him one of the greatest players in history, and acknowledged how difficult it must be to deal with the intense scrutiny that comes with being in the spotlight for so long. Becker stressed that his comments, and those of other experts, are never meant to undermine Djokovic’s accomplishments but to provide context and analysis for viewers.
Ultimately, Becker sought to ease tensions by emphasizing mutual respect between players and commentators, pointing out that both sides play an essential role in tennis. However, he acknowledged that emotional moments like this often come when a player is dealing with physical and mental challenges.
