BORIS BECKER PREVIEWS THE 2020 US OPEN

What are your expectations for the tournament?
It is exciting that tennis is back on the map. And it is exciting that after a lot of question marks that a Grand Slam is actually happening. If you had asked me in May and June, I would have been worried. I am excited that the big one is starting.

Does the US Open have the same value with so many players not playing?
You have to respect the players that are playing. It is nobody’s fault if players are not playing – it doesn’t mean the tournament has less value. It just means some of the big names on the men’s and women’s side are not there – it’s their tournament to miss. You can’t criticise the players, or diminish the players that have gone over and travelled to America to play tennis. To win seven five-set matches is tough over two weeks. It is physically and mentally very tough, so whoever wins should have the greatest respect.

Do you think there will be an asterix next to the name of the winner of the US Open with so many players missing?
It will mean as much as ever to whoever wins the tournament. It’s as important ever. It’s a great effort by everyone who has travelled to New York, making themselves available to play in a Grand Slam. Seven matches, five-set matches, it’s tough, very tough. So whoever holds that trophy in a couple of Sunday’s time will be a deserved winner. We should give them the respect they deserve.

Is this US Open more open than other Majors?
Yes, most probably. Even the top players need matches. Some of the top players like Djokovic, and the other top 10 players are playing this week, but they still haven’t played in a long time and you need a lot of matches to get your match fitness up, get your timing, get your confidence. I think there will be a few upsets, maybe we have a surprise winner. I hope some of the younger players break through and go far. On the other hand, I still see Djokovic as the favourite. To have someone established, against some of the younger players, usually makes for some great matches.

What were your feelings about the fallout of the Adria Tour and Novak Djokovic’s involvement?
I don’t understand the criticism – he was hosting the tournament in his native country where the laws and rules are different to what they are in Great Britain and Germany. Obviously, if he wouldn’t have been allowed, then there couldn’t have been a match. On top of that, he was raising money for the needy – it wasn’t for prize money, the money was given to people who needed it more than him. What was a mistake was the party, and the players letting loose. There were 25-30 people, they had a loose night, they always should be role models, and they should be perfect every single day of the year but they weren’t that night. For all the players to be criticised, as harshly as they were, is something beyond belief. Some players were obviously affected, they paid the highest price, they had to quarantine for two weeks. The principle was right, and I never understood the criticism.

Do you think anyone can stop Novak Djokovic in this US Open and who do you see as his biggest rival for the trophy?
Of course, Novak is the top favourite, he is the number one player in the world. But for him, it is going to be very odd to be playing in front of an empty stadium. He thrives on the people in the stands, he loves to play in front of 25,000 crazy New Yorkers. For him not to have that is a disadvantage, it’s an advantage for the lesser players to not have fans in the stadium. The better players are used to having people in the stadium, they have it on the regular tour whereas in the smaller tournaments you don’t have full stadiums. I’m interested to see how the top guys handle that in the first couple of rounds especially.

No Nadal, no Federer. Is Djokovic a certainty to win?
No, no. It’s not like that. We shouldn’t forget that everyone, including Djokovic was off. Nobody could play in any matches. Even if you are Novak Djokovic with 17 Grand Slams under your belt, you still need tournaments, you need your rhythm. Playing one tournament just before is good, but it’s not your ideal preparation, especially for Novak.

Can you see anyone challenging Novak Djokovic for the men’s title?
He's very experienced, but he’s never had this experience. He’s had a perfect year, so far, hasn’t lost a match. But even he is tested now. The first couple of matches at the Cincinnati Open he looked a little testy. He has started now to hit the ball better which is good for him. But everyone is starting at zero. Yes, he is the favourite, but all the focus will be on him and he has to deal with this new experience. Once he reaches the second week, he’ll begin to feel a lot better.

With a few big names missing, do you see this as an opportunity for a young player to emerge from the chasing pack to win their first Slam?
I really hope so, I think it is a real opportunity for everyone else, but especially the young guns too. They need to shine and this is a real opportunity. I don’t care that there won’t be any people there, I don’t care that this is a weird situation. This is still tennis, and the court is still the court and the rules are the same. This is time now for the young players that they are ready to step up to the plate and tell the world that they are ready to take over.  Eventually, Roger, Rafa and Novak will be too old and I want the young players to challenge the older players while they are still at the top. This is the time to do it.

These younger players have to show it now, whether it’s Zverev, Tsitsipas. It’s time for them to go to a semi-final – that’s what I’m looking for.

How do you see the tournament panning out for Andy Murray?
In a funny way, the long break might have helped Andy Murray because it gave him time to heal. He had serious surgery which was going to take him a long time to recover from, he did come back, played great, but it takes time for the rest of the body to catch up. He is the one player who may have benefitted from the long break because I watched him play a couple of matches and he looks in top shape. The tennis was coming back as well – that was always going to be the key for him – how can he hold up physically? He has showed it to himself and everyone else that he is coming back.

Do you think Serena Williams is ready to win her 24th Grand Slam at this year’s US Open?
First of all, I think it is very honourable of Serena to play. Six of the top 10 ladies are not playing, which I frankly don’t understand. Everybody has their own issues, health and safety shouldn’t be one because the USTA has guaranteed it already if you follow the rules. Serena is a leader of the game, and a leader always has to step up and lead the pack and I think she is doing that so I wish her good luck. Yes, she is the favourite. You have to give her a little bit of time to find their form, everyone will be a little nervous in the first week. But once you start the second week, you know you have three wins under your belt, you feel confident and you feel better. But the first few matches, male and female, the players will feel more fragile.

What is the best part about your job at Eurosport?
I like to be part of tennis. It’s something I love doing and it’s something I’ve been part of for 35-40 years now. I am too old to play, but I’m not too old to talk about it. I enjoy the tennis family very much.

Boris Becker is part of Eurosport's US Open tennis coverage, which starts on Monday 31 August LIVE on Eurosport and the Eurosport App across Europe (exc UK&Ire).