Becker not interested in taking charge of Zverev

BERLIN - Boris Becker has shot down rumors he is poised to coach rising German star Alexander Zverev, who recently split with Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Zverev parted company with Ferrero, 38, a Spanish former world No 1, after just six months.

However, Becker, 50, who was last year declared bankrupt by a London court, said on Tuesday he wants to focus on his work with the German Tennis Federation (DTB) and as a Eurosport pundit.

"In my role as the head of men's tennis at the DTB, my job is to look after our best," Becker was quoted by SID, an AFP subsidiary.

"But traveling with him (Zverev) every week, training and organizing everything - no thanks!"

Becker's last coaching role saw him mentor Novak Djokovic for three years until mid-2016.

However, Becker rates Zverev, ranked fifth by the ATP, as "the best 20-year-old tennis player in the world".

"The boy is a diamond, we have to be happy that we have him," said the six time Grand Slam winner.

Zverev, who uses his 6-foot-6 frame to great advantage on serves, is one of the biggest hitters on the circuit.

He won both his Davis Cup singles rubbers for Germany in a 3-1 win over Australia earlier this month and will play Spain in the quarterfinals in April.

Becker said Zverev must be patient in his bid to overtake the likes of Roger Federer, 36, and Rafael Nadal, 31, the world No 1 and No 2, respectively.

"The positions above him are occupied by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, so getting there fast is going to be difficult," said Becker.

"But it's only a matter of time before Sascha (Zverev) eventually finishes his development.

"He will become more experienced, and eventually the others will stop playing tennis."

Becker has also welcomed plans to revamp the Davis Cup with an annual weeklong World Cup of Tennis Finals contested by 18 nations every November.

"It's the most important and oldest team competition in tennis, but it's a bit dusty," said Becker. "We need to make changes to make it more exciting."

The new-look event could start as early as 2019.

Becker said the current structure, a 16-nation World Group contested over four weekends during the year, is too long.

"The current format of four games, if you reach the final, is hard to do in terms of time, at least not for a world-class player every year," he said.

Agence France - presse