WATCH: How Zverev Caused Permanent Damage On Centre Court Grass At Wimbledon

Alexander Zverev's defeat at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships did not stop him from leaving a mark on Centre Court, which might have made the grounds staff relieved that he would not be playing again at the tournament.

Although grass has been Zverev's weakest surface throughout his career, he was still the heavy favorite to defeat Arthur Rinderknech in the opening round at Wimbledon, and it seemed like a good draw.

Rinderknech proved his doubters entirely wrong. Zverev lost 6-7, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6 in a match that stretched over two days. The world No. 3 served well throughout most of the contest, but struggled in other areas.

However, even his formidable serve came at a cost. The video below shows how Zverev's service motion created a significant and noticeable mark on Centre Court that looked out of place, especially early into the event.

Zverev's motion includes dragging his right foot forward before making contact with the ball. Repeating that for five sets created the groove in the grass, which the notoriously fussy ground staff at Wimbledon must not have liked.

The three-time Grand Slam runner-up did not do anything wrong. Several other players slide their back foot forward in a similar way when serving to give themselves as much momentum as possible.

For whatever reason, his right foot's movement created a more noticeable mark on the court than has been the case for others. Had Zverev gone far at Wimbledon, the dent could have worsened.

Zverev accidentally damaged the court, and many think he damages himself by not being more aggressive during matches. Against Rinderknech, the German remained passive in the rallies despite how formidable he can be by being more proactive.

Similar criticism was directed at Zverev after he lost his 2025 Roland Garros semifinal to Novak Djokovic. The 28-year-old admitted to being disappointed after Boris Becker slammed his approach and told him to get a new coach.

Zverev has been coached by his father for many years. He had a brief spell with the legendary Ivan Lendl, who was Andy Murray's coach for the three Grand Slams and two Olympic medals that the Brit secured.

For whatever reason, the partnership with Lendl did not work out. Rumors have swirled multiple times about Zverev and Becker collaborating, but that seems more doubtful after their respective words after Roland Garros.

In his press conference after losing to Rinderknech, Zverev admitted to being in a difficult mental state. He has considered therapy, and hopefully, the two-time ATP Finals winner will reach a better place soon.

Winning a maiden Grand Slam will likely be impossible if he is not in a good headspace. Zverev's illustrious career has included an Olympic gold medal, several Masters 1000 titles, and those triumphs at the ATP Finals.

His exceptional accomplishments deserve respect. Claiming a Grand Slam and becoming the ATP world No. 1 are the two major things left for him to achieve. If Zverev managed to do those things before retiring, his place as a tennis legend would be secure.