Alexander Zverev has reached a ‘turning point’, says Nadal and Becker
Winning the BMW Open was the “turning point” for Alexander Zverev following his lacklustre form in recent months, according to Rafael Nadal and Boris Becker.
After starting his 2025 tennis season with a run to the Australian Open final, Zverev was beaten in straight sets by defending champion Jannik Sinner.
Instead of kicking on after his good showing in Melbourne and challenging for the world No 1 ranking while Sinner served his three-month suspension, the German stumbled during the South American swing, the Sunshine Double and at the start of the clay-court season.
A string of poor performances saw his hopes of becoming No 1 for the first time by overtaking the banned Italian go up in smoke with his second-round exit at the Monte Carlo Masters the final nail in the coffin.
He slipped to No 3 in the ATP Rankings behind Carlos Alcaraz, but he then enjoyed a resurgence in Munich a week later as he won the title, beating Ben Shelton in the final.
Zverev returned to No 2 and things are now looking up again at the Madrid Open before his Italian Open title defence.
Former world No 1 Nadal was asked about Zverev during the Laureus World Sports Awards and told Sky Germany: “I think he’s great. He’s an incredible player.
“The only thing he’s missing is a Grand Slam title. But probably at some point he will make it happen. He’s doing a great job.
“He had a few tough months after Australia, but he’s bounced back. The win in Munich was an important moment for him. It was a turning point for him to get back to his top level at a moment that we’re right before the second Grand Slam of the year.
“I had a very positive relationship with him and admired him a lot, so I wish him very well.”
Nadal’s fellow Grand Slam great Becker has long been an admirer of Zverev and feels his compatriot can now start dreaming again about Roland Garros.
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Zverev finished runner-up to Alcaraz at the 2024 French Open while his other Grand Slam runner-up appearance was at the 2020 US Open when he lost against Dominic Thiem.
“He needed that tough match in the quarter-final against [Tallon] Griekspoor and he played fabulously in the semi-final and final [in Munich],” Becker said.
“I think he was missing that a little bit and I’m confident that he can do well in Madrid and Rome. His big dream will be Paris, above all. To go one step further than last year.
“But I think he’s back in good form. I think he’s playing good tennis again. Winning the tournament was enormously important for him.”
