NOVAK DJOKOVIC fired the most resounding shot in the volley of season-ending coaching changes Tuesday, announcing on Twitter that he has terminated his successful three-year relationship with “Supercoach” Boris Becker.

    They are parting because the recently demoted world No. 2 needs a lift that the six-time Slam champion, struggling physically to keep up with the hectic pace of the Tour, can no longer deliver. It is a relationship that has run its course. If December is the season to be jolly for the rest of us, it is the traditional clearing month for tennis players as they retreat to their winter training camps before the new season.

    The Serb had been toweringly unconvincing in dodging questions about rumors of a breakup with Becker since the beginning of November, but the inevitable divorce gives him at least a momentum shift to chase down Murray as world No. 1 after a kaleidoscope of woes, on and off the court, had engulfed him since his shock early exit in the first week of Wimbledon. Djokovic had appeared edgy when sniping at his perceived British media enemies during the season-ending World Tour Finals in Greenwich last month. All the while, Becker, brought on board three years ago to vivify the player’s close-quarter tennis, sat broodingly in the player’s box, probably aware that his days were numbered.

    They won six Grand Slams together, including the annexation of the 2016 French Open that completed the set. Djokovic seemed to suffer an emotional crash after the landmark win over Murray in the final at Roland Garros.

    Djokovic took to social media to break the news late Tuesday.

    “After three very successful years, Boris Becker and I have jointly decided to end our cooperation,” Djokovic said on his official Facebook page.

    “The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled, and I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment.

    “On the other hand, my professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play, and also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season. In this regard I will make all future decisions.”

    If the last sentence suggests Djokovic — who didn’t name a replacement — wants more control of what lies ahead, no one could argue with the success he enjoyed with Becker, who worked alongside Marian Vajda. The Slovak was Djokovic’s main coach prior to Becker’s arrival and appears to be sticking around.(SD-Agencies)