Defending champion Novak Djokovic admits he is delighted to have given his anxious coach Boris Becker more sleepless nights by advancing to his fourth Wimbledon final.
Djokovic swept to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals on Friday and will face seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer for the title on Sunday in a rematch of last year`s final.
The Serb, who won that 2014 showdown against Federer in a five set classic, will be going for his third All England Club title and his ninth at the majors.
It promises to be an enthralling encounter between the world`s top two, but that means another two nights of tossing and turning for three-time Wimbledon winner Becker, who has been struggling to sleep ahead of Djokovic`s matches at the All England Club.
"Boris, for sure he`s got a different motivation now than he had when he was playing," Djokovic said.
"He`s going through the emotions with me like when he was playing. At least that`s what we talk about and that`s what he tells me.
"I can see that. There are times when he doesn`t sleep well before the big match, stuff like this.
"We don`t sleep together, so I heard that from him once, but I can`t say how many sleepless nights. You have to ask his wife!"
If Djokovic, who will be playing his 17th Grand Slam final, beats Federer on Sunday, he will claim a third Wimbledon title 30 years after German legend Becker first won the grass-court Grand Slam.
It would be a fitting piece of symmetry and Djokovic was quick to praise the impact of the 47-year-old, who he was hired in December 2013.
"It`s just the connection, the link between the two of us. There has to be that kind of chemistry," Djokovic said of the six-time Grand Slam winner.
"We are a team. We do this together even though I`m an individual athlete on the court and by myself, trying to win the matches.
"We have put ourselves in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy."
With two major titles and now five Grand Slam final appearances out of possible seven since joining forces with Becker, the German`s impact can`t be denied.
Becker`s ability to show Djokovic how to improve his focus on the big occasions has been especially helpful for the 28-year-old.
"It`s about the mental approach, I think, especially when you`re in the big tournaments and you`re facing different adversities in the later stages of Grand Slams when things are getting tougher from every point of view," Djokovic said.
"It`s where I think his contribution is the biggest to me and to the team.
"Ever since he came to our team last year, obviously for me, it`s a pleasure to have a legend of our sport next to me who is mentoring me and is giving me advices to be better."