Tennis in Turmoil: Becker Slams German Youth’s Lack of Resilience
Boris Becker, the three-time Wimbledon champion and former DTB official, has criticized the current crop of young German tennis players, stating they lack the mental toughness and pressure resistance skills required to succeed at the highest level.
Hamburg, May 2, 2025 – In a candid interview with Der Spiegel, Becker, who was previously involved in the men’s section of the German Tennis Bund (DTB), expressed his dismay at the generation of around 20-year-old players, claiming they have difficulty dealing with pressure and criticism: "I’ve had experience with this age group. They find a lot too strenuous, too difficult. They struggle with pressure and even have panic attacks when high expectations are placed on them."
Becker’s Critique of German Tennis Bund
Becker also took aim at the German Tennis Bund, asserting that many young players’ desire for a "work-life balance" hinders their development of resilience: "Young players want to live a comfortable lifestyle, everything has to be ‘cozy’. This mentality isn’t conducive to performing at an elite level in German tennis."
Boris Becker believes Germany’s tennis future is at risk (© Eventpress/Imago)
Doubts About DTB’s Expertise
Becker raised concerns about the DTB’s understanding of high-performance tennis, wondering aloud about the association’s expertise in training and match preparation: "There are many dedicated people at the DTB, but when it comes to the technicalities of winning matches and planning training weeks, I don’t see the specialist knowledge."
Support for Barbara Rittner
Despite criticism from Becker, outgoing German number one Barbara Rittner finds an ally in the former world No. 1. Reflecting on the pressurized environment she fostered as national coach, Becker defends her methods: "If number one or five in the world complains, I’d take it seriously. But when players ranked lower do, I don’t understand it."
Did you know?
Boris Becker’s cooperate ventures
- Teleclimber: Becker co-founded Teleclimber, a technology company specializing in cloud-based customer service software.
- Boris Becker Training: He has a high-performance training center in Madeira, Portugal.
Pro Tip
Building resilience in young athletes
‘encourage a growth mindset, challenge them gradually, and help them develop coping mechanisms to manage stress and pressure.’
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