After “problem child” criticism
Zverev counters Becker: “I think he’s looking for attention”
October 19, 2025, 7:57 a.m
Alexander Zverev and Boris Becker once worked together for success in tennis. Now they only talk about each other – and don’t skimp on criticism. The world number three makes allegations against the icon.
According to his own statement, Alexander Zverev no longer cares about the opinion of Germany’s tennis icon Boris Becker. “I think he’s looking for attention a bit – and he gets it through me. Unfortunately, that’s the case. But I’ve had enough of that now,” said the third in the world rankings to “Bild am Sonntag”.
The former Wimbledon winner Becker, who was a kind of mentor for Zverev for a long time, had repeatedly criticized Zverev and those around him in recent months, especially in his podcast with the former top ten player Andrea Petkovic. In the most recent episode, Becker described the 28-year-old as a “problem child” who was far from the top of the world. “I think he’s relatively unconcerned about me, to be honest,” said Zverev, who has only won one tournament this year (Munich in April).
“Real shit tennis shown”
“This year is just tough,” commented Zverev, also with a view to his physical problems: “As soon as you feel like you’re playing good tennis, like in Toronto and Cincinnati, the next setback comes – like in New York with your back. That describes my year a bit.” He “of course didn’t play well in many situations and showed real crappy tennis,” explained the Olympic champion in Tokyo, who is still chasing his first Grand Slam title.
The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner from Italy shared the last eight trophies at the highest level between themselves, and the two of them have moved away in the world rankings – but Zverev continues to believe in himself: “I know that I can win against Carlos and Jannik. I have to find the self-confidence again and believe that I can get there again.”
This should be achieved at the last tournaments of the year. After the highly prized trip to the Six Kings Slam show tournament in Saudi Arabia (“There’s a reason why everyone in the top 5 plays”), he still plays in Vienna and at the Masters in Paris. Then he will almost certainly qualify for the season finale of the best eight players of the year in Turin – and then play for the German team again at the Davis Cup finals in Bologna for the first time since the beginning of 2023? “When I’m fit, I’ll really think about it.”
