Boris Becker has endured sleepless nights to inspire Novak Djokovic's bid to equal his own record of three Wimbledon titles
London: Boris Becker has endured sleepless nights to inspire Novak Djokovic's bid to equal his own record of three Wimbledon titles.
Djokovic must deny Roger Federer his record eighth Wimbledon crown for the second year in a row in Sunday's final - 30 years after Becker sealed his first All England Club triumph.
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The 28-year-old Serbian revealed his mentor and super coach Becker lives every point while spurring him on, ahead of a re-run of last year's final.
Djokovic can also emulate Becker's feat of retaining the Wimbledon crown this weekend, and hailed the German's pivotal influence in his backroom staff.
"Boris, for sure he's got a different motivation now than he had when he was playing," said Djokovic after dispatching Richard Gasquet in a one-sided semi-final.
"But he's going through the emotions with me like when he was playing, at least that's what we talk about and that's what he tells me.
"I can see that. There are times when he doesn't sleep well before the big match, stuff like this.
"It's just the connection, the link that you make between the two.
"There has to be that kind of chemistry in order to really deliver, you know, team wise, something that you want."
A teenage Becker wowed the Wimbledon crowds en route to his first title in 1985, before returning to defend that crown a year later.
Now the 47-year-old has forged a formidable off-court coaching career with Djokovic, propelling the Serbian to five of the seven grand slam finals during their partnership.
Djokovic breezed past 21st seed Gasquet into his fourth Wimbledon final, defeating the Frenchman 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 6-4 to set up that clash with Federer, who dismissed Britain's Andy Murray in similar fashion.
Imperious seven-time champion Federer marched past 2013 Wimbledon winner Murray 7-5 7-5 6-4, honing in once again on a potential 18th major title.
Eight-time major champion Djokovic insisted Becker shows as few weaknesses as a coach as he did as an unruffled player - and is keen for that to rub off on him.
"He doesn't show that. He doesn't show that," said Djokovic, asked if sleepless nights fray Becker's nerves.
"He's extremely tough mentally, always was - as a player, now as a coach.
"We only talk about that after the match is over or tournament is over.
"We talk about it a little bit. He never says that.
"He never shows his weakness, I think that's one of the characteristics and virtues that helped him to be a champion.
"We are a team, we do this together even though I'm an individual athlete on the court and by myself, trying to win the matches.
"Regardless of who is on the court, in my box, supporting me or not, I need to do my job.
"I need to be able to overcome certain challenges, mental challenges and physical challenges, in order to win matches and to be at the top.
"We put ourselves in a position to fight for another grand slam trophy.
"I think the continuity of these results is giving us a lot of hope, a lot of belief, and actually gives us a reason to believe that everything we're doing is for the right cause and we've been doing it in a right way."
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