Zverev counters Becker: I don't accept criticism!
Alexander Zverev reacts to Boris Becker's criticism after leaving the French Open 2025 and talks about his coach.

Zverev counters Becker: I don't accept criticism!
After leaving the French Open in the quarter-finals of the French Open, Alexander Zverev reacted publicly to the criticism of Boris Becker and other tennis experts. Zverev, who went into the tournament as number 3 in the world, lost in a gripping match against sixth Novak Djokovic with 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. In an interview, he critically commented on the statements Becker, who had advised him to separate himself from his father Alexander Zverev Senior as a coach.
Zverev commented on the situation with the words: "If I go well with me, I always do everything right, if I am going badly, everyone is always very, very smart." This illustrates his frustration about public criticism of his performance. In addition to Becker, Zverev also turned against Barbara Rittner's comments, the former national coach, and emphasized that he did not take her opinion seriously.
Criticism by Boris Becker
Boris Becker warned Zverev after his defeat and addressed the need for a critical analysis of his performance. Becker pointed out that the level of the competition, especially due to aspiring players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. He criticized Zverev's passive play against Djokovic and advised him to a more aggressive style. "Top players do not give any points away," emphasized Becker and asked Zverev to consider new influences and environments in order to develop further. These advice also includes a possible change in the coaching team.
Although Zverev noted that he respected Becker as legend, the question remains to what extent the player will implement the advice. Becker reminded Zverev that despite his successes and skills, he has not yet won a Grand Slam title and that it was time to rethink his strategy.
Mental training in tennis
The challenges that Zverev faces are not just a technical nature. Tennis is a demanding sport that places the highest demands on condition, technology and mental strength. The success in tennis depends heavily on the player's mental skills. As in many sports, mental differences are often the key between the top 10 players and others. Support from the family and the choice of the right trainer are crucial for the development of young talents to top athletes.
Zverev's situation illustrates how important a strong mentoring and coaching team is to deal with the pressure of the professional sport. A coach should be able to respond individually to the needs of the player and work in a team to achieve the best results. Especially in the phase after decisive defeats, the right support is needed to regain the mental focus and to work strategically on its style of play. Working with sports psychologists or mental coaches can help strengthen properties such as self -esteem and resilience that are crucial for success in tennis.
Alexander Zverev is at a turning point of his career. With the right support and a critical look at his development, he could be able to write the next chapter and finally celebrate his first Grand Slam successes.
For more information on the recent events in the tennis world, visit Laola1, Tennis365 and Sport mental coach.