Novak Djokovic was' heartbroken' over the jailing of former coach

On Friday, he was sentenced to two years and six months by a London court. The 54-year-old German had been charged with flouting the terms of his bankruptcy and was reportedly hiding £2.5million worth of assets and loans. Djokovic referred to him as a long time friend more than a coach and a person who has been a critical factor in his success. 

Djokovic refuses to talk about the arrest of his former coach.

At Madrid Open, Nole remarked, "Just heartbroken for him. He's a friend, a long-time friend, a coach for three, four years, someone I consider close in my life and has contributed a lot to my success in my career. I'm not going to get into details of the verdict because I'm not in a position to do that, but, as his friend, I'm super sad for him. It's not much that you can say."

The Serbian continued, "I just hope he will go through this period that he has to be in jail and that when he comes out, he's able to live his life – I don't know if we'll use the word 'normal' because life is changing for anybody going to prison, especially for that long of a time. So I don't know how things will turn out for him. I pray for him. I hope things will be well in terms of his health, his mental health because that's going to be the most challenging part."

Becker has played a crucial role in Nole's career.

Djokovic trained under him between 2014 and 2016, as the now arrested Becker helped him win six of his 20 Grand Slam titles. The world number one has been a three-time titleholder at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid and is now aiming to clinch his first title after his loss in the final match of the Serbia Open last week. Becker maintained his successful image even after his retirement as he resorted to becoming a TV pundit and subsequently a well-respected coach to Djokovic. 

Djokovic refused to go into the verdict's details as he was unable to do so. He instead expressed his concern regarding the undesired circumstances his friend is in. The Serbian legend hopes that life will be manageable for Becker once released from prison. Nole, too, has had a tough year attributed to his unvaccinated status that prohibited his entry into the Australian Open and subsequent deportation from the country. He will participate in his fourth tournament of the season in Madrid this week after his defeat in Belgrade last weekend.

The 34-year-old is happy to be back in contention for upcoming tournaments, and his newfound clarity motivates him to make the best out of himself, particularly in Grand Slams, as stated by Djokovic.