Exclusive: Novak Djokovic shouldn’t make it obvious he’s vying for a Calendar Slam, says Boris Becker

It might be a “mistake’ for Novak Djokovic to solely goal a Calendar Slam, says Eurosport’s Boris Becker.

The Serbian additionally gained the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this yr, that means that victories at Wimbledon and the US Open would ship him all 4 majors – the ‘Calendar Slam’.

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“It might be a mistake, from his standpoint, to make it apparent now,” Becker completely advised Eurosport Germany’s Das Gelbe vom Ball podcast.

“As a result of you already know what occurred final time: He gained three, was within the last after which could not stand the nervous pressure,” he continued, referring to 2021 when Djokovic misplaced the US Open last to Daniil Medvedev after profitable the three different Grand Slam tournaments that yr.

“That is why he ought to actually solely think about Wimbledon. However the man desires to interrupt data. I do not know which one he can nonetheless break, the calendar Grand Slam in a single yr, that is possibly the one one nonetheless excellent. 100 per cent, he is considering, however I hope he will not discuss it and simply exit on the grass, attempt to win Wimbledon now, after which the US Open will come sooner or later.

“As an athlete, I believe it is a mistake to speak too loudly in regards to the large objectives, to inform the general public what you are as much as. Speaking about it for a very long time after a victory is ok, however earlier than a victory, it is usually a mistake, and infrequently you do not win that.

“That is why: Rule in silence, practice after which win, after which you’ll be able to discuss your victory for weeks. I believe at Wimbledon, he’s nonetheless in a state of euphoria, he’s on cloud 9, and for me, he’s the clear high favorite.

“However then comes the summer time break, and he has to ask himself when he has 23 Grand Slams, or 24 with a Wimbledon win: The place is the journey going? ‘I can not and do not wish to play without end’. He additionally answered this query after the press convention, based on the motto: ‘After I cease profitable, then the query arises’.

“‘However so long as I win Grand Slam tournaments, I wish to do this till the top of my days’, so so long as he retains profitable, so long as he’s nonetheless taking part in for the massive titles, he’ll preserve going. Sooner or later, the youthful technology will overtake him, however I do not see that occuring for some time but.”

Becker additionally spoke about Alcaraz, who was defeated by Djokovic within the semi-finals of Roland Garros in 4 units after the 20-year-old struggled with cramps. The German believes that whereas Alcaraz might be a contender for years to come back, Djokovic was underestimated by most of the people forward of their match-up.

“I am turning into an enormous fan of Carlos Alcaraz,” Becker mentioned. “Tennis is in good fingers with him on the helm. He smiles loads, he performs new tennis, he is a likeable younger Spaniard, he has good manners, so he is actually good. I hope two or three extra will come near him, as a result of we want gamers like that, initially.

“However: Djokovic was underestimated a bit as a result of all my associates mentioned: ‘Sure, Alcaraz, he’ll dominate the 36-year-old’. So I mentioned: ‘take it straightforward’.

“Initially, the 36-year-old is a 22-time Grand Slam winner, he is aware of precisely what he is doing. He is been on this scenario 16, 17, 18 occasions, and he’ll have thought of play, struggle and work the twenty-year-old challenger. And twhat Djokovic did: He performed a lot greater tempo, so he went over the dreaded forehand of Alcaraz and performed a lot sooner, meaning far more intense.

“Then it is also a few sure pressure: he additionally constructed up stress on his opponent, and that was an excessive amount of for Carlos. He has by no means skilled such a scenario with every other participant, at every other event.

“Sure, we’re speaking about Djokovic, probably the most profitable. So these are all abilities that Novak has, and he delivered to the day, and what’s extra, Carlos walked [ran] an excessive amount of. This can be a best-of-five match, you already know your opponent is taking part in nicely, it’s a must to handle your energy. When it is 40-0, let the ball go by. And he did not do this.

“It was virtually an exhibition match – so these first two units had been the 2 finest units within the event for me, however there are nonetheless two or three to play, and Carlos underestimated that.

“Perhaps I recognised his age in that match. So he was 20 years younger in that case, and he acted prefer it, which is likeable and which is nice. However that was the explanation why you may need exhausted your self after which bought the cramps.

“I do not assume it was a bodily drawback, however fairly a psychological, psychological, religious drawback, as a result of he merely could not address the stress that Novak constructed up.”

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