34 years ago today: Boris Becker and Günther Bosch split up
With Günther Bosch at his side, Boris Becker was able to win Wimbledon twice. On January 20, 1987, the two separated in Australia.
by SID
last edit: Jan 20, 2021, 01:02 pm
For ten years they were Güntzi and Boris, father and son, mentor and player. But on January 20, 1987, just a few hours after the knockout in the round of 16 of the Australian Open, the relationship broke up. Becker parted ways with Bosch - or was it the other way around? In any case, the cutting of the cord between the best German tennis player and his trainer happened faster than expected.
The disappointment burned itself in, and Günther Bosch makes no secret of it even more than 30 years later. "Boris can't forgive me for quitting at the time," Bosch once told the Sports Information Service (SID). The relationship that seemed indestructible a long time ago is no longer one. At least it's not "as it should be".
Bosch has always liked to describe what it used to be like over the past few years. "He was just different from the others, that's why we trained differently," he said: "For example in the disco, Boris danced like a madman - and I stood at the counter with five different shirts so he wouldn't catch a cold. Ideal for footwork and rhythm. "
Bosch looking for the next Becker without success
Together with manager Ion Tiriac, the Transylvanian-born Bosch formed the protective shield that Becker needed to conquer the world as a teenager. In 1985 and 1986 he won Wimbledon - and then looked for another way. "I need a coach who doesn't look after me day and night," said Becker. He now had his Benedictine from Monte Carlo.
"If we had breakfast together earlier, it wasn't because Boris couldn't eat his sandwiches alone. We mentally prepared the upcoming match. Today, understandably, he wants to be alone with her at breakfast," complained Bosch after the breakup Spiegel interview. Bosch was marginalized, it hurt him after all these years.
In 1976 he had discovered Becker as national coach during a sighting in Biberach. Bosch ignored the "elephant legs" and the "baby fat", he realized: This guy from Leimen has something special. After the separation, Bosch looked for the next Becker. But he had to realize: "I've never found someone like him again."