Boris Becker before US Open: "We are missing national heroes"
With his Wimbledon victories, Boris Becker put Germany into a tennis frenzy in the 80s - he sees the fact that the attention for the sport is much less today is due to the lack of success of his successors on this scale.
by SID
last edit: Aug 31, 2020, 03:50 pm
"In tennis we lack the national heroes. We would have more fans again if Struff or Zverev won the US Open," Becker told the news portal t-online.de before the start of the Grand Slam tournament in New York.
World number seven Alexander Zverev (Hamburg) and Jan-Lennard Struff (Warstein) are currently the best German tennis players. While Zverev reached a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time at the Australian Open in January, Struff had the last sixteen in Roland Garros from last year in his vita as the best major result. Both start the US Open on Monday, Zverev will play against Kevin Anderson (South Africa) in the first round, Struff against Pedro Martinez Portero (Spain).
Becker enthusiastic about FC Bayern
Becker sees his opinion confirmed by the comparison with football. "The sport is so successful in Germany because Bayern win," said the 52-year-old: "People like to identify with winners. The way they performed in the Champions League on the international stage was sensational. That's how you become automatically become a football fan. "
At the same time, Becker also criticized the way German sports icons were dealt with. "In Germany we see our heroes in a very single-lane. They are rated according to the last headline," he complained: "In other countries it doesn't matter, there the focus is more on lifetime achievement."
Becker sees the US Open as a lucky bag. "This year is crazy and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a semi-final or a final with players that you didn't expect there before," the 52-year-old told Eurosport.
Becker's favorite is his former protégé Novak Djokovic , but: "Who will be his opponent in the final is really written in the stars."