Becker was better than Lendl. The difference between the two was up there in the head. Becker was a bad-tempered man, addicted to sleeping pills and alcohol whereas Lendl was always 100% into it. And just for the record, Boris reached the FO semifinals 3 times.
Becker had his peak from 1985-1991. In this time he was the best player in the world. Doesnt matter what his world rating position was. Unfortunately he had afterwards mental problems and stopped the training then he get problems with his healthy and was often injured. Always when you believed maybe he get his old shape back he got an injury. Here he was just much slower than at his prime time. That was the main problem and his knee problems were bad for his serve.
Listen, I like Becker and all that... but in that period, the best player without question was Lendl. Lendl was also the only player who deserves a place as one of the top 5 best players of the open era.
Make no mistake, I am no Lendl fan, and I love S&V tennis (Edberg is my fav)... but to claim anything other than the late 80s being Lendl's era is horribly wrong.
@alin1975 Agreed in that Lendl is one of the all time greats, but you can't deny that Becker was 4-0 vs Lendl at the majors betwen 1986-1989 (beat him 3 times at Wimbledon, once at the US open and once at the Australian open '91). The only time Lendl beat Becker in the Majors was the '92 US open. Overall, however, Lendl vs. Becker is 11 wins and 10 losses. But to say Becker wasn't a part of this era and it was only Lendl's is, imo, horribly wrong. Majors are what count most and Becker owned him.
I never, ever said Becker was not a part of this era. The late 80s belonged to four players, Lendl, Edberg, Wilander, and Becker.
However, Lendl was by far the head honcho, he was number 1 for 270 weeks, won more GSs, more tours, etc
GS head to heads are not a great assessment for several reasons, e.g. Becker never played Lendl at the French, largely because he was getting eliminated in the early rounds. On the other hand Lendl 3 times made it far enough to play Becker on grass...
@Konduffi2 Becker was never number 1 material, his game was too unbalanced, way too powerful and unnatural for his level of fitness, hence his knee problems and other injuries.
The best player from 1985-1989 was Lendl and from 1990-91 Edberg.
@Konduffi2, you are right, his play was too energy-sapping to be played by a heavy tall person. Afaik he had more problems with his thighs and quadriceps than with his knees. He reduced the service-movement cause with 25 or 29 he could´t carry his own weight together with the service that he did when he was 18 or 22. Not sure which trainer worked on it, maybe Bob Brett?
Becker and Ivanisovic - the two real dickheads of men's tennis whom I thoroughly and completely detest - both Wimbledon winners, which definately goes to the nature of Wimbledon and the British.
Richard you are indeed a cretin of the highest order. When Goran won Wimbledon after being granted a wild-card entry it was one of the true great tennis stories.
Becker was better than Lendl. The difference between the two was up there in the head. Becker was a bad-tempered man, addicted to sleeping pills and alcohol whereas Lendl was always 100% into it. And just for the record, Boris reached the FO semifinals 3 times.
vinagre76 4 months ago
Becker had his peak from 1985-1991. In this time he was the best player in the world. Doesnt matter what his world rating position was. Unfortunately he had afterwards mental problems and stopped the training then he get problems with his healthy and was often injured. Always when you believed maybe he get his old shape back he got an injury. Here he was just much slower than at his prime time. That was the main problem and his knee problems were bad for his serve.
Konduffi2 11 months ago
@Konduffi2
Listen, I like Becker and all that... but in that period, the best player without question was Lendl. Lendl was also the only player who deserves a place as one of the top 5 best players of the open era.
Make no mistake, I am no Lendl fan, and I love S&V tennis (Edberg is my fav)... but to claim anything other than the late 80s being Lendl's era is horribly wrong.
alin1975 9 months ago
@alin1975 Agreed in that Lendl is one of the all time greats, but you can't deny that Becker was 4-0 vs Lendl at the majors betwen 1986-1989 (beat him 3 times at Wimbledon, once at the US open and once at the Australian open '91). The only time Lendl beat Becker in the Majors was the '92 US open. Overall, however, Lendl vs. Becker is 11 wins and 10 losses. But to say Becker wasn't a part of this era and it was only Lendl's is, imo, horribly wrong. Majors are what count most and Becker owned him.
Kommaseir 7 months ago
@Kommaseir
I never, ever said Becker was not a part of this era. The late 80s belonged to four players, Lendl, Edberg, Wilander, and Becker.
However, Lendl was by far the head honcho, he was number 1 for 270 weeks, won more GSs, more tours, etc
GS head to heads are not a great assessment for several reasons, e.g. Becker never played Lendl at the French, largely because he was getting eliminated in the early rounds. On the other hand Lendl 3 times made it far enough to play Becker on grass...
alin1975 7 months ago
@Konduffi2 Becker was never number 1 material, his game was too unbalanced, way too powerful and unnatural for his level of fitness, hence his knee problems and other injuries.
The best player from 1985-1989 was Lendl and from 1990-91 Edberg.
RATio77 8 months ago
@Konduffi2, you are right, his play was too energy-sapping to be played by a heavy tall person. Afaik he had more problems with his thighs and quadriceps than with his knees. He reduced the service-movement cause with 25 or 29 he could´t carry his own weight together with the service that he did when he was 18 or 22. Not sure which trainer worked on it, maybe Bob Brett?
whity72 6 months ago
Becker was at his peak imho, although he was #1 in 1991.
whity72 1 year ago
french commentator: blablablablablabla
SHUT UP!
bernhardlanger 1 year ago 8
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Becker and Ivanisovic - the two real dickheads of men's tennis whom I thoroughly and completely detest - both Wimbledon winners, which definately goes to the nature of Wimbledon and the British.
Richardhedditch261 2 years ago
Richard you are indeed a cretin of the highest order. When Goran won Wimbledon after being granted a wild-card entry it was one of the true great tennis stories.
TheBudedwards 2 years ago 11
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Becker is my least tennis player of all time!
clarriona 3 years ago