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Becker: Federer, Williams will benefit from break

Tennis legend Boris Becker believes Roger Federer and Serena Williams have extended their careers due to the Covid-19 enforced break.

It is looking increasingly likely that there may be no more tennis in 2020 due to global health concerns, with the Olympics and Wimbledon already high-profile casualties.

However, Becker thinks it may actually be of benefit to the older players on the tour.

“If the year is lost then I don’t think it’s bad for Federer or Serena,” Becker told Sky Sports.

“They haven’t really abused their body for a year so in a way they have gained a year.”

Becker also believes that the only people the enforced break will really affect is the younger players, as it will cost them a year of invaluable experience, although it may be a huge boost to Andy Murray.

“I think it is good for players like Andy Murray because it gives him more time to get physically ready to come back in 2021,” Becker added.

“I don’t think the young players benefit actually because they lose a year gaining experience and playing matches.

“If any group I think they will be affected the most because they have never taken that much time off.

“It benefits more [Novak] Djokovic, Nadal and Federer because they know how good they are and what to do.

“We will not see a change of form from them but the young players will take more time to come back.”

-TEAMtalk media

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