Alexander Zverev wasn’t happy with Boris Becker’s harsh criticism after his French Open loss to Novak Djokovic. The former world No. 1 basically told Zverev he needs to ditch his dad as coach and get more aggressive.
It’s pretty brutal feedback from a German tennis legend to a fellow countryman.
Zverev is still chasing his first Grand Slam title at 28. He’s reached three finals but can’t seem to get over the line. Before this year’s French Open, he even said Roland Garros felt like his best shot at finally winning a major.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev | 28 | 6,885 | 34 - 10 |
That hope died in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic beat him in four sets – 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The 38-year-old Serbian came back from losing the first set, which has become his specialty over the years.
A lot of people expected more from Zverev against an opponent who’s nearly a decade older. Critics said he played too defensively and let Djokovic control most of the points.
Becker’s Brutal Assessment
That’s where Becker came in with some really tough love on German TV. He didn’t hold back about Zverev’s passive style and suggested the Olympic gold medalist needs a coaching change.
"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."
Becker got even more specific about Zverev’s team situation:
"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."
Barbara Rittner, Germany’s Fed Cup captain, also criticized Zverev’s performance. She was speaking alongside Becker during the TV coverage.
Zverev Fires Back
At last week’s Stuttgart Open, the two-time ATP Finals champion responded. You could tell he was disappointed by what his compatriot had said.
"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."
It’s clear Zverev felt blindsided by the public criticism from someone he considered a friend.
But he’s not completely writing off Becker. Despite being hurt by the comments, Zverev says he’d still talk to the six-time major winner if Becker reached out.
"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."
Different Treatment for Rittner
Zverev’s response to Rittner was way harsher. He basically dismissed her opinion entirely, which some might see as pretty disrespectful.
"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."
The difference in how he treated the two critics is telling. Becker won six Grand Slams and was world No. 1. Rittner never achieved that level during her playing career, and Zverev clearly thinks that matters.
More Critics Pile On
Becker and Rittner weren’t the only ones going after Zverev’s style. Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, was even more brutal. She called him *"a pu*y" for his passive approach and criticized him for accusing other players like Lorenzo Musetti of being defensive when he doesn’t step up in big moments himself.
It’s been a really tough few weeks for Zverev in terms of public criticism.
The big question now is whether he’ll actually make changes to his team or approach. He’s got the talent to win majors – everyone agrees on that. But at 28, time isn’t exactly on his side anymore, especially with younger players constantly emerging.