Boris Becker gives timeframe for Alexander Zverev to win elusive Grand Slam

Alexander Zverev has been told that he is at an age where he “has to” win his maiden Grand Slam with tennis great Boris Becker suggesting it is a case of now or never for the current world No 2.
The 27-year-old Zverev was tipped to become a multiple Grand Slam winner and world No 1 since he made his breakthrough as a teenager, but he is yet to get his hands on a major trophy with his biggest titles a couple of ATP Finals trophies.
He has reached two Slam finals, but on both occasions he finished runner-up as he lost in five sets against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open while also went down against Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s French Open final with that match also going the distance at Roland Garros.
Although he finished second in the ATP Rankings last year, Zverev has seen the likes of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner overtake him as the former has already won four Slams at the age of 21 while the 23-year-old Sinner lifted the Australian Open and US Open trophies last year.
In the newly launched Becker Petkovic podcast in which he teams up with fellow German Andrea Petkovic, the former world No 1 says Zverev will find it “much more difficult” to win that elusive Grand Slam if he fails to get the job done in the next 18 months.
“He is now at an age where he has to do it,” the six-time major winner said.
“For me, Sascha has to win the Grand Slam title he longs for in the next 18 months, because otherwise, it will be much more difficult than it is now.”
Becker also feels Zverev needs to find “that one per cent” that will take him over the line at majors and a super coach could well be the answer.
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Zverev is currently being coached by his father, Alexander Zverev Senior, but he had stints with Ivan Lendl, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Sergi Bruguera.
Becker himself was part of the golden generation of super coaches as he coached the great Novak Djokovic for a lengthy period while Lendl coached Andy Murray, and Stefan Edberg teamed up with Roger Federer at one stage.
The missing “one per cent” could come from a super coach, according to Becker.
“The father is already very dominant. And the mother is dominant. It’s a family business. They did everything 99 per cent right. But that one per cent is missing,” he added.