Becker Slams Zverev's "Passive" Game, Calls for Tactical Shift
Aggressive Behavior: Djokovic Accused of Unsportsmanlike Conduct Towards Rival Becker, Allegedly Targeting Stomach Area
Tennis legend Boris Becker criticized Alexander Zverev's passive play in his quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the French Open. Becker felt that letting Djokovic play an astonishing 35 stops was a bit disrespectful and attributed Zverev's failures to a lack of aggression.
"He should've whacked a return straight back at Novak on the sixth stop or so; given the old boys a reminder that he ain’t no pushover," Becker, a Eurosport analyst, remarked bluntly. "Many other players would've done the same," he added, throwing shade at Zverev's passive plays.
The usual baseline strategist found himself enticed to the net by Djokovic's stops, struggling to counter the tactic despite Zverev's admiration for his opponent's game, stating, "He played better than me today; he had an answer for everything I did."
Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, advised Zverev to take aggressive action against superstars like Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz. "Against these heavyweights, you gotta make your points, and you gotta be the one taking the action," Becker maintained.
The 57-year-old questioning Zverev's poor performance during the clay court season and suggested the reigning champion may need to reconsider his coaching setup, drawing parallels to the significant changes made by Rafael Nadal throughout his career.
Zverev, however, seemed uninterested in analyzing his disappointing tournament, choosing instead to hit the golf course, "[I'm] going golfing. I have absolutely no desire to play tennis right now."
When asked about his future plans, Zverev remained noncommittal, hinting that he needed time to digest and plan a comeback for the Wimbledon, still 3.5 weeks away.
Sources: ntv.de, ter/dpa
Insight:
Boris Becker's criticism highlighted the need for Zverev to adapt and become more aggressive when facing tough opponents like Novak Djokovic, as well as questioning Zverev's current coaching setup. This issue aligns with broader discussions in the tennis world about the impact of coaching and strategic adaptations in achieving Grand Slam victories.
"Boris Becker's criticism of Alexander Zverev's passive game at the French Open reinforces the importance of being aggressive, especially against Grand Slam heavyweights like Djokovic, in sports such as tennis."
"Reminiscent of Rafael Nadal's coaching changes, Becker suggests that Zverev might need to reassess his coaching setup to boost his performance, particularly during clay court tournaments."
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