Exclusive | Exclusive interview: Boris Becker on his ‘intimate affair’ coaching Novak Djokovic

When Boris Becker starts talking about “an intimate affair”, the mind leaps for the obvious quip. This is a man whose autobiography, titled ‘The Player’ in English, has a chapter devoted to women.

But the former world No.1 (tennis that is, no rankings as yet for the other thing) is talking about a more rewarding – and longer-lasting – relationship than some of his many conquests: his coaching partnership with the current No.1, Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic has won five of nine available grand slam titles in those 27-odd months, with his 2015 season perhaps the greatest in tennis history.

Unlike some of Boris’ relationships – in and out of tennis – this one looks like lasting some time. Becker binned his first mentor, Gunther Bosch, at the age of 19, showing little ruth when he felt the man who had guided him since childhood had no more to offer a two-time Wimbledon winner.

“I think the big difference there was I was a real teenager when I worked with Bosch – he was more of ... father figure is the wrong word, but more looking after the private Boris, because my coach really was Ion Tiriac,” says Becker.