Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Boris Becker has instigated a minor controversy, with reports that the coach of Novak Djokovic is far from pleased with the new “SABR” net-rushing tactic which has been successfully employed to great effect by Roger Federer at the US Open.

Controversial former great Becker slammed the chip-and-charge strategy – reportedly suggested in recent months by his own former rival from the 1980s Stefan Edberg – as “almost disrespectful” to opponents, presumably referring specifically to his own man Djokovic.

Federer, who rarely – if ever – courts controversy, laughed off the hysterics from the former champion, saying he would not be changing a thing: “No, it’s not disrespectful. Pretty simple. I will do it some more. No problem.”

Becker said that had he been on the receiving end of such a shot he would have slammed it back to his opponent’s body by way of warning. “It’s almost disrespecting the other guy’s serve. Everybody talks about that’s his new strategy – he comes in. It’s within the rules,’ Becker told Britain’s Sky television.

“If he would have played a (John) McEnroe, (Jimmy) Connors, (Ivan) Lendl or even me, we would have said: “Roger, in all honesty I like you very much but I’ll go straight at you. In my generation guys would not have accepted as it is now.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.