MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Boris Becker’s first priority will be to help Novak Djokovic gain a “mental edge” when the pressure rises at the grand slams, the Australian Open champion said in Melbourne yesterday.
Djokovic, who will bid for a fourth straight title at Melbourne Park when the tournament gets underway on Monday, announced last month he had hired the six-times grand slam-winning German to be his head coach.
The 46-year-old Becker was a keen observer at the invitational Kooyong Classic, where Djokovic prepared for the heat of the year’s first grand slam with a 7-5 6-1 exhibition victory over Argentine world number 42 Juan Monaco played out in steamy conditions.
“I’m really glad and honoured to have Boris in our team as my head coach,” Djokovic said in a courtside interview after the sweaty contest at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, a former host venue of the Australian Open until 1987.
“I sincerely hope he can bring that mental edge because he recognises the situations that one top player is facing, especially during the grand slams and the pressures and expectations, and the clutch moments.
