Germany not only welcomed a new ATP Challenger Tour event this week in Ismaning, but an all-time great paid a visit to the tournament, too. Boris Becker, the new Head of Men's Tennis for the German Federation, visited Ismaning for a press conference earlier this week to discuss the future of tennis in his native Germany, and the importance of a Challenger event like the inaugural Wolffkran Open in developing talent. “We now have eight players among the Top 100 and players who are also capable of reaching the second round of Grand Slams,” said Becker, who was joined by German Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann, tournament director Dr. Peter Aurnhammer and the event’s third seed, Yannick Hanfmann. “As Head...
Novak Djokovic will try to re-claim No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings next season without the assistance of coach Boris Becker. The two will no longer work together, Djokovic announced on Tuesday. “After three very successful years, Boris Becker and I have jointly decided to end our cooperation. The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled, and I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment,” Djokovic wrote. “On the other hand, my professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play, and also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season. In this regard I will make all future decisions.” Becker, a...
Ivan Lendl had held the upperhand, but his rivalry with a young Boris Becker was beginning to turn by 5 December 1988, the occasion of the year-end Nabisco Masters final, at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. The route to the final wasn’t easy for either player, but their 12th meeting (Lendl led 7-4) was to hit new heights. It remains one of the greatest matches in the 47-year history of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. “I hadn’t played much for a few months, since the US Open, due to shoulder surgery, and played at the Masters against my doctor’s advice,” Lendl told ATPWorldTour.com, 28 years on. “But, having played a few exhibitions, and knowing how...
We celebrate arguably the greatest final in the 47-year history of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals: the 1988 title match between Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl at Madison Square Garden that ended on a let-cord in a fifth-set tie-break.
Since 2009, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals has found a home in the iconic city of London with more world-class tennis scheduled at The O2 through to at least 2018. With the prospect of the biggest match in the tournament’s 46-year history on the cards, should Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic battle for year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings in Sunday’s final, ATPWorldTour.com looks back on the best matches at another of the season finale’s long-term former homes: Madison Square Garden in New York City. This week, more than 30 former players who competed at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in the 1980s are joining current stars at The O2 as part of the ATP Finals...