Djokovic happy to give Becker sleepless nights

Defending champion Novak Djokovic admits he is delighted to have given his anxious coach Boris Becker more sleepless nights by advancing to his fourth Wimbledon final.

Djokovic swept to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals on Friday and will face seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer for the title on Sunday in a rematch of last year's final.

The Serb, who won that 2014 showdown against Federer in a five set classic, will be going for his third All England Club title and his ninth at the majors.

It promises to be an enthralling encounter between the world's top two, but that means another two nights of tossing and turning for three-time Wimbledon winner Becker, who has been struggling to sleep ahead of Djokovic's matches at the All England Club.

"Boris, for sure he's got a different motivation now than he had when he was playing," Djokovic said.

"He's going through the emotions with me like when he was playing. At least that's what we talk about and that's what he tells me.

"I can see that. There are times when he doesn't sleep well before the big match, stuff like this.

"We don't sleep together, so I heard that from him once, but I can't say how many sleepless nights. You have to ask his wife!"

If Djokovic, who will be playing his 17th Grand Slam final, beats Federer on Sunday, he will claim a third Wimbledon title 30 years after German legend Becker first won the grass-court Grand Slam.
It would be a fitting piece of symmetry and Djokovic was quick to praise the impact of the 47-year-old, who he was hired in December 2013.

"It's just the connection, the link between the two of us. There has to be that kind of chemistry," Djokovic said of the six-time Grand Slam winner.

"We are a team. We do this together even though I'm an individual athlete on the court and by myself, trying to win the matches.

"We have put ourselves in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy."

With two major titles and now five Grand Slam final appearances out of possible seven since joining forces with Becker, the German's impact can't be denied.

Becker's ability to show Djokovic how to improve his focus on the big occasions has been especially helpful for the 28-year-old.

"It's about the mental approach, I think, especially when you're in the big tournaments and you're facing different adversities in the later stages of Grand Slams when things are getting tougher from every point of view," Djokovic said.

"It's where I think his contribution is the biggest to me and to the team.

"Ever since he came to our team last year, obviously for me, it's a pleasure to have a legend of our sport next to me who is mentoring me and is giving me advices to be better."
Source: AFP