Shocked Alexander Zverev Hits Back At Boris Becker's Recent Criticism
NewsWednesday, 18 June 2025 at 10:39
Alexander Zverev did not hide his displeasure about Boris Becker slamming the 28-year-old's approach during his loss to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.
Zverev has yet to win a Grand Slam despite reaching three finals. Months before the 2025 iteration at Roland Garros, the German admitted that he felt the event in Paris was his best chance of winning a maiden major title.
That dream is over for another year after Novak Djokovic defeated him in four sets in the quarterfinal. The legendary 24-time Grand Slam champion recovered from losing the first set to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Although Djokovic's brilliance is known worldwide, some expected better from Zverev against his 38-year-old opponent. Many criticized him for being too defensive and allowing Djokovic to dictate most of the rallies.
Speaking on German TV to German Billie Jean King Cup captain Barbara Rittner, Becker slammed Zverev for being too passive before suggesting the Olympic Gold Medalist needs to move on from his father and get a new coach.
"At some point, you need new noises and a new environment. It’s the same in football, as a football coach, you don’t normally stay with a club for 10 years."
"He [Zverev] is the one who decides. He is the chairman of the board, the CEO. He decides what Team Zverev will look like in the future. His father and brother did an excellent job, but it wasn’t good enough for the final step.”
Rittner was also critical of Zverev. Speaking at last week's Stuttgart Open, the two-time ATP Finals champion responded. Zverev said he used to speak to Becker a lot but was disappointed by his words after the match against Djokovic.
"I talked to Boris a lot, had a lot of contact with him before he made those statements. Before this crew had all that to say, I had a great relationship with him. I don’t know why it all has to be like this now."
Despite not liking what Becker said, Zverev is open to talking with him because of his immense respect for the six-time major winner, and would respond if his compatriot reached out to him.
"I will always talk to him [Becker] if he wants to talk to me. In every relationship, whether it’s with a partner or someone else, there are issues to argue about. This is perhaps one of ours at the moment."
"I still have enormous respect for him. He is an absolute legend, not only in sport, but in Germany in general, and also worldwide. I will always listen to what he has to say. But I don’t always have to agree with him."
In contrast to his continued respect for Becker, Zverev says he does not pay serious attention to Rittner. Some might consider this disrespectful, but she did not achieve the same amount as Zverev during her playing career.
"I don’t know why she [Rittner] suddenly has so much to say about my tennis career. To be honest, I don’t take her opinion seriously. Firstly, because of that, and secondly, because I think she’s wrong."
Others have also criticized Zverev for not being aggressive enough. Rennae Stubbs slammed him as "a pu**y" for his style and for accusing Lorenzo Musetti of being defensive despite routinely not stepping up in big moments.
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