Australian Open: Becker:”Goerges can take it to the top”

Boris Becker spoke about Julia Görges and Angelique Kerber’s chances of winning the title ahead of the Australian Open. Both ladies are in good shape and therefore clearly rank among the title candidates for Becker.

“I think there are maybe ten of the ladies’ favourites,”Becker said in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung. After the rejection of Serena Willams, the chances of the other players had increased.

Görges, who won the tournament in Auckland a week ago, trusts Becker a lot because:”Much depends on the daily and weekly form. Whoever gets a good form in the second week of the tournament can win the title. Like Angelique Kerber two years ago when she won in Melbourne, Görges can take it to the top.”

Becker is also expecting a lot from the two-time Grand Slam winner Kerber:”Her games at the Hopman Cup in Perth impressed me, and she was absolutely great in Sydney as well,”said Becker,”These are signs that she was well prepared and fit during the break. I think they’re strong enough to play much better this year than last year.”

The former coach of Novak Djokovic sees his former protégé on the right track. Becker is particularly taken with the step of bringing Radek Stepanek into the team,”This is an excellent choice. Stepanek is close to Novak, and the combination with Agassi is ideal, provided the player is fit.”

The Serbian’s state of health is one of the big unknowns before the first major of the year. Djokovic suffered from a complicated elbow injury that forced him to take a break in the second half of 2017.

Becker now sees Djokovic as being obliged to take the next step in his comeback:”Maybe he has to force himself to play a match,”said Becker,”Only then will he know one hundred percent how far he is. He has to bite the bullet. Because in training, you never go beyond your limits.”