"If you’re born male and become female, you’re physically stronger": Boris Becker comments on IOC transgender decision
ATPFriday, 10 April 2026 at 00:30
Boris Becker was speaking in his role with the Laureus Sports Awards about the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, players not being able to cotton on to their rise and what needs to happen for that to occur.
As well as the recent IOC ruling about transgender players being banned from Olympic sports and whether he will be coaching going forward. In terms of Alcaraz, Becker admitted that he doesn't have a weakness but that will come with a cost if he gets bored which Becker admits could feasibly happen.
He said that if the matches come too easily, so might the will to quit early with Alcaraz and Sinner in particular sat a whopping 7,000 points ahead of the competition in the latest ATP Rankings, something which shows their incredible dominance but also leans into the fact that there is little to no competition on show.
“Alcaraz is a fascinating player. He’s exactly what the tennis world needed,” Becker said to EFE. “He’s charismatic, a joy to watch, a true artist on the court.”
“He doesn’t have a weakness,” he said. “But all artists need inspiration. He’s inspired by Sinner and by certain challenges. If matches come too easily, he might get a little bored.”
Fils and Fonseca, coaching and transgender ruling
Pointing to who could feasibly challenge the dominance of the big boys, he sees Arthur Fils and Joao Fonseca as big deals when it comes to that. But overall that others need to step up and find their way into the subconscious debate alongside Sinner and Alcaraz.
“I like the way he plays,” Becker said of the Frenchman. “If he’s healthy, he could challenge Alcaraz and Sinner at the Grand Slams. I rate Fonseca very highly. His future is bright too.”
“They need to improve their games. They need to show it when it matters—not on the practice court, not in a quarterfinal, but in the semifinals and finals of the big tournaments. That’s where Alcaraz and Sinner are still in another league,”
But he won't be answering the phone to coaching gigs, he coached Holger Rune last time out and that ended abruptly and that seems to have pointed towards retirement.
“My time as a coach is over,” he said. “My phone is always open—if one of those guys calls, I’ll give them my perspective privately, but I won’t return as a coach.”
He also was asked about politics in sport and the ruling which saw transgender players banned from Olympic sports by the IOC and he said he has an open minded view.
“I like the decision. It’s the right one. I’m open‑minded—people can change their sex. But in sports, if you’re born male and become female, you’re physically stronger. You have an advantage.”
“The power of sports has always been that it’s not political, and we should keep it that way,” Becker said. “There have been wars everywhere over the last hundred years. We don’t support the ‘good’ or the ‘bad’ depending on viewpoints. Athletes aren’t responsible for their governments’ decisions and shouldn’t be punished.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Wow! Someone of note who hasn't "coached" Raducanu yet!!
- Retire now and save yourself more embarrassment...
- Nobody wanted to practice with Condescending Collins? Gee... why would that be?
- WTF is this doing in a sports report???
- In what Universe do we care what Condescending Collins has to say? Tennis Channel has lost its collective mind as well... how gross it is they put her on TV -- and talking! Adios, Tennis Channel. Very few viewers want to endure that average-at-best coverage anymore.
- Nice week, Jess. Go Buffalo Sabres!!!!
- Illness? Sure, sick over the fact she's run out of legit coaches. Also, perhaps another bout of allergies to 'work' and instruction.
- Two major problems with sports (and Life) in today's world... 1. Self-imposed "experts" like Gilbert, Clijsters, and Stubbs can't keep their nasty opinions and rumors to themselves. They feel a need to talk about things they have no relation to, nor a clue. 2. People & anti-Social Media.
- Anyone else notice how general mental & physical fatigue is a major issue now, given WTA's ignorant refusal to consider the stress of their idiotic scheduling and additional demands??
- What a load of bullshit. Artur Szostaczko failed to mention that he didn't get hired!!
Loading
