Former German tennis legend Boris Becker considers Novak Djokovic to be family and thanked him for his support and help during a rough period in his life when he was in prison. Becker, who also trained Djokovic for a large part in his career, also considers him to be “probably the greatest player of all time”. The player who conquers also the betting world. 

Boris Becker became Djokovic’s coach in 2013 and the duo worked together for three seasons before parting ways in 2016. During those three seasons, Becker coached the Serb to six Grand Slam titles and 14 Masters 1000 titles. The six Grand Slam titles also included the 2016 French Open – a title which Becker never managed to win during his playing career.

Presenting a new documentary made on his achievements on the court and flaws and controversies off it at the Berlin Film Festival, the 56-year-old mentioned that his former pupil has always been a steadfast ally and has always been by his corner.

“Novak Djokovic became a family member. You know we had a professional relationship for many years and we parted ways in 2016,” Becker told a news conference.

“But we always stayed close and especially when I had to spend time inside (prison) — he supported me, he supported my family. I started crying when he started winning. I’m very proud that probably the best player of all time is part of this story.”

The story he is referring to is “Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker”, a two-part documentary by Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney that is set to premiere on Apple TV+.

Becker was deported to his native Germany from the United Kingdom in December 2022 after serving eight months of a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence for flouting insolvency rules by hiding £2.5 million ($3.1 million) of assets and loans to avoid paying debts.

At Berlin, he took the chance to reflect on his newfound freedom and how his life has shaped up since being released from jail.

“It feels great to be free, and at peace with myself. We all have to improve ourselves. Whether that is possible is another question. 

“I’m very pleased that after six months I was able to leave prison. I see the world with a different perception,” he further added. Explore more about Tennis news and betting by visiting Nextbet.