MELBOURNE (AFP) - Six-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic said he was happy to take a risk on his untried new coach Boris Becker as he prepared to enter a new era under the flamboyant German.

The defending Australian Open champion admitted adding Becker to his team, after his coach Marian Vajda requested more time with his family, was a potential gamble.

But he is excited about his new partnership with the six-time Major winner who has hung up his commentator's microphone to return to the tour.

"Whenever you make a change in life, it's a potential risk, right? How is it going to affect you?" said Djokovic.

"But I don't want to think from that perspective. I'm really excited about this cooperation. I'm excited about this partnership that I have with Boris that also has been approved and supported by Marian, who is still in the team."

Djokovic denied that Andy Murray's successful partnership with Ivan Lendl had prompted him to hire Becker, a trend followed by Roger Federer (Stefan Edberg) and Kei Nishikori (Michael Chang) among others.