PAES, BHUPATHI, NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, SAYS BECKER

Paes, Bhupathi, Saina need to work together for growth of Indian tennis: Boris Becker

Legendary Boris Becker feels the three icons of Indian tennis, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Saina Mirza need to bury their differences and work together for the betterment of the sport in the country.

Talking about Indian tennis, which has not been able to produce world-class singles players in the last three decades, Becker said the trio (all doubles specialists) need to unite to take the game forward in their country.

"India has a long success history in tennis. You have to have large pool of players, so that some of them go on to win titles. At the moment you don't see them but I would say it is a matter of time," the German great told PTI.

"Tennis is very popular in India, I know that for a fact. May be the likes of Sania, Bhupathi and Paes need to do something about it. I know they are fighting a little but that is the only solution (to work together). That is what the former players did in Germany and France, they went back to sport administration," he added.

Becker has also backed an in-form Novak Djokovic to chase Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam titles and said the Serbian's best chance to achieve the feat is in the next two years.

The 31-year-old Djokovic is back to his best after a lean run and has won the last three Grand Slams, including a record seventh crown at the Australian Open last month.

Federer is 37 but is still going strong despite his fourth round loss at Melbourne Park.

Seventeen-time Majors winner Rafael Nadal too is well and truly back in the mix and reached the final at Melbourne Park after an injury lay-off.

Becker, speaking ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards here on Monday night, said equaling Federer's tally of 20 Grand Slams is now in the realm of possibility.

"One of the misfortunes of playing in an era with Federer and Nadal is you can't really compare yourself to them. Normally, after 15 Grand Slams and seven Australian Open titles, you would say 'wow'. It is wow but the next question is 'will Novak ever break Federer's record?" said Becker, who coached the world number one to six Grand Slam victories between 2014-2016.

"The short answer is that there is a possibility (of Novak getting close to Federer's 20 titles) but a lot of things have to happen. Yes he won the last three majors but before that he had a two year dry spot."

Following his split with Djokovic, Becker had questioned the Serbian's work ethic.Tennis is fickle and sensitive. Lot of things have to be right in your personal and private life.