"Without them the tennis circus would no longer exist": Boris Becker urges Nick Kyrgios to show respect for tennis legends in addressing feud
ATPTuesday, 19 December 2023 at 05:00
Former world number one Boris Becker has urged Australia’s Nick
Kyrgios to respect the legends of the past.
The 28-year-old is famous for being outspoken which has led
to severe criticism from some former players as well as from the fans on social
media as well.
Kyrgios recently took a dig at former players including Becker
in an interview where he stated: “The game was slow back then. I watched Boris
Becker and I am not saying they were not good in their time, but to say they
would be just as good is absurd,” he said.
Becker in a recent interview urged Kyrgios to respect the
players of the past as according to him, they are the reason why the former
world number 10 is still making a living out of the sport without playing for
nearly 12 months.
“We live in a democracy. Everyone can think whatever they
want,” six-time Grand Slam winner said. “I’ll
start now with Australia. Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, John Newcombe, Ken Roach –
the gladiators of the Australian tennis scene. Then I have to mention a Patrick
Rafter and a Lleyton Hewitt. They were all number one and won Grand Slam
tournaments.
“I’ll go further into the generational question and say:
70s, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, then Ivan Lendl came along. They
made the sport popular and brought viewers in front of the television. You can
see the result today.
“That’s because of the legends of old. In the 1980s, I
played a bit myself, like a Stefan Edberg or a Mats Wilander. Andre Agassi and
Pete Sampras came along in the 90s.
“All of these players make it possible for Kyrgios to
virtually not play tennis at all this year and still be able to make a living
from his sport. I got £300,000 for my first Wimbledon title. The winner of
Wimbledon 2024 will receive three million.
“You have to have
respect for the past players and simply say thank you out loud that these old
pros existed, because without them the tennis circus would no longer exist.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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