Boris Becker has pinpointed one very real problem that he had to deal with, which remains even today.
The German, at the peak of his powers, was one of the best players in the world.
With a ferocious serve and a deft volleying game, he had the foundations of a deadly tennis player. Added to that a rock-solid forehand and he had all the tools to rise up the rankings, reaching the world number one spot for the first time in 1991.
However, he was also a player often shrouded in controversy which followed him into retirement.
Ironically, this was not what he sought to pinpoint as a big problem for the modern-day player, instead focusing on another issue which he seemed to dislike during his playing days.
Boris Becker pinpoints a big problem for the modern-day tennis player
Speaking on the official Halle Open YouTube channel, what sparked this claim actually came from a rather innocuous question.
Asked about his favourite meal, Becker instead opened up about what annoyed him whilst he was a player, and what likely annoys most current players as well.
He claimed: ‘Well, it’s actually a real problem for the players. They can’t eat what they like, but rather what’s good for them. It was the same when we were playing. The number one at the time, Ivan Lendl, had a very strict diet, and what the number one does, we all copy.’
In his retirement, that stance will likely have relaxed somewhat, and he finished this statement by simply claiming: ‘I like Italian food’.
Becker’s treatment of Alexander Zverev over the last few weeks has raised a few eyebrows, with the world number three questioning his compatriot for what he said about his coaching team.
It seems that, despite still being in Germany for this event in Halle, the two are yet to publicly make up.
Boris Becker reveals his tennis role model
Moving on from his dietary frustrations, which is an annoying necessity for any elite-level athlete, Becker then was asked who his greatest role model was.
He did not hesitate to answer this question: ‘Yeah so mine was Bjorn Borg. Wimbledon was, at that time, one of the few tennis tournaments we could get on German television. But no, they always showed his matches that Bjorn Borg won, so he was my role model.’
The 57-year-old was likely not alone in worshipping the legendary Swedish superstar, who finished his career with a supremely impressive 11 Grand Slam titles, five of which came one after another at Wimbledon.
An era of domination that few will ever come close to matching, he had one of the most distinctive playing styles in tennis history.
His coolness made for a compelling contrast to John McEnroe, who burst onto the scene as the antithesis to the calm and collected Borg.
It feels like, of those who grew up watching this era, you had to pick a side in this particular rivalry given just how opposite they were.
Becker clearly favoured the silent killer that was Bjorn Borg.
