Patrick Mouratoglou’s ‘bold’ verdict as he assesses Alexander Zverev Grand Slam hopes
Patrick Mouratoglou believes that Alexander Zverev “lacks being bold, being aggressive” in big matches as he assessed the German’s chances of winning a major title.
Zverev was beaten 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 by world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final last weekend, failing to create a break point chance in a lopsided affair.
It was the third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals for the world No 2, who lost the 2020 US Open final to Dominic Thiem and the 2024 French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev struck gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has won two ATP Finals titles, and is a seven-time champion at Masters 1000 level, though winning a major has so far proven one hurdle too many.
Many have queried whether he has the belief that he can win a major title, with former world No 1 Mats Wilander among those questioning the German’s confidence after his Australian Open loss.
“I’m starting to wonder if Zverev still has faith in himself. When I see this performance, not in terms of ball striking or tactics, but in terms of emotional input, I’m starting to wonder,” said Wilander.
“I’m sure he believes in it at the beginning of the match, but you have to believe in it in the third set when you win the first point of the last game. You have to bluff your opponent and when he doesn’t do it, it worries me, to be honest.”
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However, for Mouratoglou, there is a different issue.
Speaking on his Instagram page, the Frenchman – best known for his work with Serena Williams – claimed that the issue was Zverev struggling to adapt to a new tactical approach in big matches.
He said: “I don’t think that Sascha loses this Grand Slam final, at least the last one, because he doesn’t believe enough. I think he does believe.
“But I think that there’s still things he’s lacking in his game. He improved, for sure. He’s No 2 in the world now, he came back stronger, and I think he added a lot of things to his game.
“When it comes to the big moments, he lacks being bold, being aggressive, taking the risk, taking the match, really taking it. He pushes himself to do it but it’s not natural yet.
“I think he needs more time. I think he needs to do it more and more and more and more and find better efficiency.”
Zverev is one of just seven men in the Open Era to lose his first three Grand Slam finals, though is the first to do it having lost finals at three separate majors.
He is also one of two active players to hold a 0-3 record in major finals, joining Casper Ruud – who lost the French Open final in 2022 and 2023, and the US Open final in 2022.
Both Zverev and Ruud may take encouragement from the fact that the five other men to go 0-3 in major finals all ultimately tasted Grand Slam success.
Dominic Thiem and Goran Ivanisevic won one Grand Slam singles title, Andy Murray is a three-time major champion, while Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl won an impressive eight Grand Slam titles.
Read Next: The 7 men to lose their first three Grand Slam finals: Zverev joins Agassi, Lendl
