The defeat of the German Davis Cup team against Switzerland promoted the discussion again: Should Boris Becker take on a task at the DTB again? Yes – but then he too has to change his behavior. A comment.
by Daniel Mueksch
last edited: 02/11/2023, 04:26 p.m
There is no question that the name Boris Becker works. His aura works in Germany and beyond Germany. It opens doors and can undoubtedly initiate or shorten some processes. DTB-Vize already announced when Becker was still in an English prison that he could imagine working with Boris again. When Becker was then deported to Germany by the English authorities before Christmas and publicly put out his feelers towards the DTB in January, but the reactions there were muted, it became clear: Not all decision-makers at the DTB are convinced of a Becker comeback. A convicted criminal in office and dignity of the largest tennis association in the world? Incompatible for some officials.
From a constitutional point of view, you have to shake your head. Basically, someone who has served his sentence must be able to reintegrate into society. With Boris, however, things are a little different. He was deported to Germany on a program designed to decongest English prisons. And more importantly: after his return, there is hardly any remorse for his actions. The insolvency administrator from London has just publicly criticized the behavior of the three-time Wimbledon winner. Creditors have also spoken out with criticism of Becker’s appearance. For an official position in an association that is financed by thousands of clubs and their (mostly honorary) members and their contributions, Boris Becker has to be even clearer about his mistakes and a learning for the future. Otherwise not only the insolvency administrator and the creditors will feel duped.
Still some open questions
If he can do that, nothing stands in the way of a return. The question remains, in which position? It should be an illusion to believe that he has an immediate effect on performance in sport – for example at the Davis Cup and there on a player like Alexander Zverev. He’s proven many times that big names don’t particularly impress – in both a positive and negative sense. Ivan Lendl can sing a song about it. He feels more comfortable in a family than with a star coach by his side. Exchange with Becker? Yes. But a coach-protégé-coach collaboration? Hardly imaginable.
It doesn’t seem to be as easy as Boris Becker imagined a return to the DTB. And that’s a good sign, in a way.
