Australian Open: Ousted Novak Djokovic lacking '˜desire' says former coach Boris Becker

Novak Djokovic's former coach Boris Becker has criticised the Serbian for lacking fight and playing too defensively during his Australian Open defeat to Denis Istomin.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic gestures to the crowd after losing to Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin. Picture: AP/Mark BakerSerbia's Novak Djokovic gestures to the crowd after losing to Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin. Picture: AP/Mark Baker
Serbia's Novak Djokovic gestures to the crowd after losing to Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin. Picture: AP/Mark Baker

Becker and Djokovic split at the end of last year following a disappointing run of form for the 29-year-old, who failed to win Wimbledon, the Olympics or the US Open.

Djokovic also surrendered the world No 1 spot to Andy Murray.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The new season was supposed to represent a fresh start but Djokovic was beaten 7-6 (10/8) 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 by wild-card Istomin in an epic encounter on Rod Laver Arena.

Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin celebrates his win over Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Picture: AP/Aaron Favila.Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin celebrates his win over Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Picture: AP/Aaron Favila.
Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin celebrates his win over Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Picture: AP/Aaron Favila.

Yorkshire-born Kyle Edmund missed the opportunity to face Istomin in the next round when he was beaten 6-2 6-4 6-2 by Spain’s 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta.

It is the first time Djokovic has lost before the third round of a grand slam in 34 attempts, since he bowed out at the same stage of Wimbledon in 2008.

“I’m really shocked that Novak lost,” said Becker, who is part of Eurosport’s live coverage of the Australian Open.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I thought he was playing much too defensive and never really took the initiative and never really fought for it.

Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA.Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA.
Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA.

“I absolutely never expected him to have trouble with Denis Istomin. No disrespect but ‘Nole’ is a six-time Australian Open champion.

“But I could tell in the first set he was way too defensive and way too passive. The first set in a three out of five match is always very important.

“In the fourth set again he was a bit lethargic and not playing at full power.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Then once you’re in the fifth set anything can happen and credit to Denis, he kept his composure, he kept his nerve, he went a break up and kept serving well and hitting the lines so it’s well deserved.”

Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin celebrates his win over Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Picture: AP/Aaron Favila.Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin celebrates his win over Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Picture: AP/Aaron Favila.
Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin celebrates his win over Serbia's Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Picture: AP/Aaron Favila.

Djokovic was bidding to win a record seventh title at the Australian Open, where he has been crowned champion in four of the last five years.

His exit left Murray in pole position to clinch a first triumph at the tournament while also strengthening the Scot’s position at the top of the world rankings.

“It’s a tough one – I feel for him and I still have so much respect for him,” said Becker.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This is a new situation for him. The Australian Open was always the foundation of the year and you leave Australia with the title in the bag and the 2000 points and the year plays much easier.

Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA.Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA.
Novak Djokovic and Boris Becker. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA.

“Now it’s a new situation and I think the team has to stick together and sleep on it because nothing is going to come out of it tonight. They need to find a cure for this current situation.”

Edmund had defeated Santiago Giraldo in round one, but the world No 46 started slowly against Carreno Busta and never recovered.

“It’s one match I have lost that I wish I could have done better on, and I will get better from it,” said Edmund.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I just played a poor match, really. There is no-one going to be more disappointed than me about it.”

This was just Istomin’s second win in 34 career matches against a top-10 opponent but he was virtually unplayable at times, hitting 63 winners and reeling off 17 aces, many in crucial moments.

“It is unreal,” he said. “If somebody said I would beat Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, I would say: ‘are you crazy or what?’ Especially in five sets, for sure.”

Istomin, wearing a fluorescent yellow headband and matching glasses, has never gone past the fourth round at a major tournament before and has been coached by his mother for most of his career.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The good thing is that I don’t need to pay the coach extra, everything goes to my mother,” he joked.

Edmund, meanwhile, received treatment during the first set and struggled with his serve – the Melbourne sun appearing to hamper him during the latter stages of the contest – as well as squandering all six of his break points.

In contrast, Busta barely put a foot wrong, dismantling his opponent in an hour and 46 minutes.

At 5-2 down, the 22-year-old Edmund called the trainer for treatment on his left foot, but it did not affect the momentum of the match as he netted a forehand on set point in the next game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Busta was less convincing at the start of the second but Edmund’s third double-fault of the match handed him a break in the seventh game of the second set

An excellent return of serve at 15-30 in the 10th game gave Edmund a couple of chances to level the second set, but Carreno Busta produced two big serves and eventually took the set after surviving two further break points.

Two unforced errors from Edmund gave Busta a couple of break points in the fifth game of the third set, and a double fault handed the Spaniard the game.

Edmund was visibly frustrated when he fired a forehand long after a lengthy rally on break point in the next game and the contest was effectively over when Carreno Busta got a second break, drawing Edmund to the net and firing a return which the Brit could only volley long.

Third seed Milos Raonic and ninth seed Rafael Nadal both secured straight-sets victories.

Raonic beat Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller while Nadal eased past Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.