Becker Slams Zverev's Passive Play; Suggests Positive Changes for Future Success
Incidentally mentioned: Becker's Alleged Disrespectful Action Towards Djokovic's Midsection
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It's game over for Zverev at the French Open quarterfinals, leaving tennis legend Boris Becker fuming over his passive play. During his match against Djokovic, Zverev allowed the 38-year-old to play a whopping 35 (!) stop shots without much of a fight, leaving Becker bewildered.
"This is disrespectful," Becker said, skewering Zverev's tactics as an expert on Eurosport. "If I were playing against a player who played the fifth stop shot, I'd clobber one back so hard, they'd never do it again!"
Zverev failed to respond to Djokovic's tactical ploy, being unable to counter or even score a point from the baseline against his rival. "At some point, I felt like I didn't have a clue about how to make a point from the baseline against him," Zverev admitted post-game. "He had an answer for everything I tried," he added, praising Djokovic's play.
Becker blasted Zverev's lackluster performance, stating that reaching the quarterfinals was the bare minimum. "The semifinals should have been the goal, and he missed it" Becker said. "He'll need to think hard about what didn't go right this season." Becker suggested a candid conversation with his family about setting a new direction.
Clay court season not being up to the mark, Zverev seemed unenthused about the immediate future. He mentioned golf as his next destination. However, with Wimbledon less than a month and a half away, Zverev may need to rally his focus quickly.
With superstars like Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz to contend with, Becker stressed the importance of being aggressive and believing in victory. To surpass greats like these, Becker suggested, Zverev needs a new approach.
It's not just about strategies, either; Becker emphasized that Zverev must tackle his mentality, particularly in high-pressure situations. Rafael Nadal, Becker noted, found success by surround himself with a strong coaching team [1]. Becker even proposed a shake-up for Zverev's team, including the possibility of parting ways with his father, Alexander Zverev Sr. [2].
Sources: ntv.de, ter/dpa
- Tennis
- Alexander Zverev
- Grand Slam tournaments
- French Open
Insights:
- Becker and other professional players believe that Zverev needs more aggression to compete at the top level [1]
- Becker proposes that Zverev should objectively examine the reasons behind his subpar performance this clay court season [3]
- To emulate Nadal's success, Becker suggests Zverev should focus on assembling a formidable coaching team [4]
- Zverev's father, Alexander Zverev Sr., may need to step aside as coach for the reigning champion to achieve his Grand Slam dreams [2]
- Becker's critiques point towards the need for Zverev to make proactive changes and take a more assertive approach to matches, particularly during high-pressure situations like Grand Slams [3][4]
Sports enthusiast Boris Becker, a tennis legend, criticized Alexander Zverev's passive play during the French Open quarterfinals, suggesting he adopt a more aggressive approach to advance further in Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open and claim tennis's highest honors, such as a Grand Slam. Becker believes Zverev can emulate Rafael Nadal's success by assembling a strong coaching team.
