Novak Djokovic hires tennis great Boris Becker as new coach

World number two Novak Djokovic announced that tennis Hall of Famer Boris Becker has joined his coaching team for the 2014 season and will serve as his head coach.

Becker, a 6-time Grand Slam titlist, will be travelling with the Serbian star’s team during the upcoming season, including the Australian Open tournament in Melbourne by January. He is slated to join Djokovic in other major events such as in Dubai, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, the U.S. Open, Shanghai, Paris and London.

“I am proud Novak invited me to become his head coach. I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together,” Becker said in a statement.

Djokovic’s long-time coach Marian Vajda will still be around to help Djokovic and is slated to accompany him in Indian Wells, Madrid, Toronto and Beijing.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris. He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the Grand Slams and other tournaments,” Djokovic said in a statement posted on his official website. “Becker is a great person, too, and I am sure he will fit in our team in the best possible way. Boris brings new fresh approach, and together with Vajda he will make a winning combination. My goal for 2014 is to play my best tennis and to get in shape for the Grand Slams and Masters 1000. These tournaments have the most weight in our sport, and I want to prove my worth at them. The team is now strengthened and we hope for maximum results.”

“In a few weeks Novak and I will start the eight year of our cooperation,” Vajda said in a statement. “During that period we have achieved almost all the goals we had. I realized that Novak nedeed a new head coach in order for him to continue improving certain parts of the game. In the same time, I will have more time for my family. Becker’s assignment will not affect much my position in the team, since I will do all I can for Novak, just like I did before. On the other hand, choosing Boris as a head coach is a good solution, I am sure we will get along very well, and that Novak will continue to progress.”

Djokovic secured his fourth Australian Open title this year and finished the season ranked number two in the world behind rival Rafael Nadal.