Former professional tennis player Boris Becker, who has won six Grand Slam titles, is currently without a coaching position after ending his partnership with Holger Rune abruptly.
On the other hand, Alexander Zverev, another prominent player, is currently being coached by his father, Alexander Zverev Snr, following his split from Sergi Bruguera in May of last year.
During an interview with the German press agency DPA, Zverev was asked about the possibility of being coached by Becker, to which he responded, “There is always a chance, and there always has been.”
Becker’s decision to part ways with Rune after just four months came as a surprise to many, as it was believed to be a long-term arrangement. However, Becker explained, “Our initial goal was to reach the ATP Finals at the end of last year, but I soon realized that in order for this partnership to be successful, I would need to dedicate more time to Holger than I am currently able to. Due to professional and personal obligations, I cannot provide Holger with the support he needs at this time. I wish him all the best, and I will always be his biggest supporter. I am truly grateful for our journey together.”
This statement is believed to be in reference to Becker’s restricted travel privileges to certain countries as a result of his criminal conviction in 2022 for concealing assets during his bankruptcy declaration in 2017. After serving eight months of a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Becker was deported back to Germany.
As a result, the 56-year-old did not accompany Rune to Australia for the season-opening Grand Slam. Furthermore, it has been revealed that he is unable to travel to the United Kingdom for Wimbledon or to the United States for the US Open.
This could potentially pose a problem for Zverev.
The current world No 6 expressed, “If you are considering bringing someone like Boris on board, it is to win the major tournaments. And, of course, the coach needs to be present at those events.”
However, Zverev made it clear that he is open to being coached by the best in the business, with Becker being among the top choices. Becker has previously coached world No 1 Novak Djokovic for several years.
“Simply gaining insight into their mindset and understanding their thought processes in such situations can always be beneficial,” Zverev stated.
The 26-year-old continued, “There is always something new to learn. I won’t be stubborn and claim that I know everything.”
According to the Source tennis365.com