Boris Becker: Indian players have potential to do well

Tennis ace Boris Becker says that he firmly believes that India could have players in the singles quarterfinals at Grand Slams.

While interacting with the media at the HT Leadership Summit here on Saturday, he pointed to the presence of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna in the doubles top-10.

One of the all-time greats of the game, who had sensationally won Wimbledon when he was 17 in 1985, the German recalled Ramesh Krishnan a fascinating player. He also recalled that it was Vijay Amritraj who had nick-named him “Boom Boom”.

Becker suggested that the key to having more champions across many disciplines was to have the right schooling programme, and said that is what it would take for India to win medals at the Olympics the way China in.

Conceding that he had little knowledge of cricket, Becker said that he was good friends, though, with Kapil Dev.

Becker said takes courage to call it quits, and that it is even more difficult to make come-back later, like Michael Jordan or Michael Schumacher.

The German legend said Roger Federer was the best among tennis players because he was technically supreme and had 17 Grand Slam titles to his name.

Becker said that he would have loved to have won more Grand Slams but recalled that there was an array of top players who would not let him.

He commended Andy Murray for having approached Lendl, a man with considerable knowledge of the game, and being rewarded with the Olympic gold, and his first Grand Slam title at the US Open.

However, he ruled out a career in coaching, saying he had neither the time nor the inclination, as he was busy with various other things.

Having watched the Olympics in London, Becker picked Usain Bolt as the King of the Games.