Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters with a straight-sets win over Vasek Pospisil of Canada. Photo: Reuters
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https://scmp.com/sport/china/article/2028066/novak-djokovic-drops-hint-he-could-ditch-coach-boris-becker-while-nick Tennis
Novak Djokovic drops hint he could ditch coach Boris Becker, while Nick Kyrgios is fined for tanking
Serbian world number one says he is trying to adopt a fresh approach to the game
Novak Djokovic brought Boris Becker on to his team in 2014 and has enjoyed a successful relationship with him. Photo: Xinhua
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic dropped a hint that he may split with coach Boris Becker on Thursday, as Nick Kyrgios was hit with a big fine for his Shanghai Masters meltdown.
Djokovic, who says he is taking a fresh mental approach after struggling in recent months, revealed he had made no plans about retaining Becker in his team next year.
“We are still working [together], yeah ... for now the plan is the rest of the season, what’s left, indoor tournaments,” said Djokovic, after reaching the Shanghai quarter-finals.
Asked what would happen next year, the defending champion said: “We still haven’t talked about it.”
Becker joined Djokovic’s coaching team at the start of 2014, helping him win six of his 12 grand slam titles and put together one of the all-time great seasons last year.
Speculation about their partnership has grown since the Serb suffered a crisis of motivation and a series of injuries since completing a career grand slam at the French Open.
Djokovic lost in Wimbledon’s third round and in round one at the Olympics before reaching the US Open final, while also enduring wrist and elbow problems and admitting “private issues”.
“I don’t think about any trophies or number ones in the world, rankings, anything like that. It’s completely different,” he said this week, explaining his new approach.
Djokovic skipped last week’s China Open with his wrist injury but he was in impeccable form as he dismantled Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday.
Second-ranked Andy Murray, who is gunning for Djokovic’s world number one crown, was even more impressive as he walloped Lucas Pouille 6-1, 6-3.
Murray didn’t face any break points against France’s Pouille as, like Djokovic, he raced into the last-eight without dropping a set. 
Nick Kyrgios was fined US$16,500 for not giving his best on the court in losing to Mischa Zverev of Germany at the Shanghai Masters. Photo: AFP
Separately, Australia’s Kyrgios received a US$16,500 fine after his extraordinary 6-3, 6-1 defeat by 110th-ranked Mischa Zverev where he tanked points and argued with fans.
The combustible world number 14 received the maximum US$10,000 fine for “lack of best efforts”, plus US$5,000 for abusing a spectator and another US$1,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Trouble-prone Kyrgios, 21, patted a slow serve into his opponent’s court and failed to contest several points in his second-round defeat on Wednesday.
Kyrgios also clashed with the chair umpire and fans, received a code violation for swearing and had a heated argument with one spectator when he was facing match points.