Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl will renew rivalries at the Australian Open in a month's time - 23 years after Melbourne Park played host to their last Grand Slam final clash.

Becker was last night named as the new head coach of world No 2 Novak Djokovic in a move that mirrors Andy Murray's appointment of Lendl two years ago.

Lendl is credited with helping the current world No 4 break his Grand Slam duck, with his first major title coming at the 2012 US Open before he became the first British men's champion at Wimbledon in 77 years last summer.

While Djokovic, already a six-time major winner, is in a very different place in his career compared with Murray two years ago, the 26-year-old Serbian is in need of fresh impetus after a 2013 campaign that saw him win just one Grand Slam title and surrender the top ranking to Rafael Nadal.

Becker and Lendl shot to prominence in the 1980s as leading lights of a new breed of hard-hitting power players and went on to become multiple champions - Becker winning six manor titles from 10 major final appearances and Lendl eight from 19.

They also crossed swords in three Grand Slam finals, starting at Wimbledon in 1986 - when Becker retained the title he had won a year earlier at the age of 17 - then again at the 1989 US Open - when Becker again prevailed - and finally at the 1991 Australian Open.

That last meeting - won again by Becker - was the last Grand Slam final between the two, but come January 26 they could again find themselves facing off in the showpiece match on Rod Laver Arena - albeit this time guiding their charges from the stands.

Djovokic is the three-time defending champion at Melbourne Park and will be bidding for his fifth Australian Open crown next month. Murray, meanwhile, has been runner-up Down Under three times - losing to Djokovic in 2011 and 2013 - and few would bet against the pair going all the way again next month, this time with the added spice of a tactical battle between Lendl and Becker.

"I am proud Novak invited me to become his head coach," Becker said on Djokovic's ­official website, novakdjokovic.com.

"I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together."

Djokovic hopes Becker's experience can help him get back to the top of the world rankings after being dethroned by Nadal last year.

"I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris.

"He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the grand slams and other tournaments.

"Becker is a great person, too, and I am sure he will fit in our team.

"My goal for 2014 is to play my best tennis and to get in shape for the grand slams and Masters 1000.

"These tournaments have the most weight in our sport, and I want to prove my worth at them."