HALLE, June 18, 2015

Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer is preparing for his quarterfinals match against Florian Mayer at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle at the moment, but hit back at Boris Becker’s claims that he and world number one Novak Djokovic do not get along.

Boris Becker is part of Djokovic’s coaching team

The retired German and former world number one, who is currently working as Djokovic’s head coach, claimed that the Serbian and Federer “do not particularly like each other”.

In response, the Swiss world number two told the Berner Zeitung that Becker does not have a clue about the two player’s relationship. “Becker really has no idea. Actually, he would have to know me well enough to know that I am a relaxed guy,” Federer said the Swiss newspaper.

“I for one, appreciate him. I do not consider him primarily as a coach of Djokovic, but I see him as Boris Becker, a man to whom I used to look up. I am friendly and polite to people, without having to adjust myself. Sure, sometimes I have to pull myself together when I am tired or not in a good mood, but that’s part of the job.”