Boris Becker questions Alexander Zverev’s mental health revelation as he assesses Grand Slam hopes
Boris Becker remains “convinced” that Alexander Zverev can win a Grand Slam title and rise to world No 1 as he delivered his latest verdict on his compatriot’s fortunes.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Becker has become one of the most outspoken figures regarding Zverev, the current ATP world No 3 and a three-time Grand Slam runner-up.
The former world No 1 questioned Zverev’s coaching situation after his Roland Garros quarter-final defeat, though later praised the 28-year-old after he was seen working with Toni Nadal in Mallorca.
Zverev, widely considered the best male player of the Open Era not to win a Grand Slam title, will return to action at the Canadian Open this week, after a shock round-one loss at Wimbledon.
Speaking following his defeat to Arthur Rinderknech, the German admitted that he felt “empty” – and had felt lonely on tour.
“I’ve never felt this empty before,” commented Zverev.
“Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do. It’s not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well.
“Even when I’m winning, even when I’m winning like in Stuttgart or Halle, it’s not necessarily, like, a feeling that I used to get where I was happy, over the moon, I felt motivated to keep going.
“It’s just not there right now for me, which, again, is the first time in my life which I’m feeling.”
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Becker previously admitted that he had “cried” hearing Zverev’s comments in his Wimbledon press conference.
However, in further comments made at an event in Germany this week, the tennis great claimed that he would have advised his “sporting adopted son” not to publicly reveal his struggles.
“Alexander Zverev is a kind of sporting adopted son to me – I have a lot of empathy for him,” said Becker.
“If I had been his coach, I would have advised him not to reveal such information about his mental state at the Wimbledon press conference.
“Ideally, you don’t open up when you’re eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.”
Zverev returns to action at the Canadian Open in Toronto next week, where he will be the top seed in the absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
In Toronto and at the Cincinnati Open the following week, the German will look to get hard-court matches under his belt ahead of the US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of 2025.
Zverev was the runner-up at the event back in 2020, and also lost the 2024 French Open and 2025 Australian Open finals.
The German, who has reached a career-high of world No 2, has won titles at every other level of the sport, including an Olympic gold, two ATP Finals titles, and seven Masters 1000 titles.
And Becker, one of just two German men to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era, believes his compatriot can capture an elusive major title and rise to the top of the ATP Rankings.
He added: “It was perhaps the revelation he needed. I am convinced that he will win his Grand Slam and that he can become number one at some point.
“Becoming number one is difficult, but staying number one is the most difficult thing in the world.”
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