The public relationship between Alexander Zverev and Boris Becker has deteriorated into a pointed exchange of criticisms, with the two German tennis figures trading barbs over public perception, national identity, and professional conduct. The discord surfaced following comments made by Becker in an interview with Der Spiegel, as reported by Punto de Break, where the former world number one scrutinized Zverev’s public persona and his connection to his Russian heritage.
Becker questions Zverev’s public rapport
Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, suggested that Zverev’s current popularity in Germany suffers due to his behavior during interviews and his communication style. “I often find that Zverev is quite brusque and curt in German interviews,” Becker stated. “He is not exactly kind to journalists. However, when he speaks English, he is much more friendly, has charm, a sense of humor, and knows how to laugh at himself.”
Beyond media interactions, Becker argued that Zverev has failed to cultivate a strong connection with home crowds. He pointed to Zverev’s recent Grand Slam final appearances, suggesting that, in his view, the majority of the spectators often support Zverev’s opponents. “As a player, you need to have the public on your side,” Becker said. “With Sascha, it doesn’t always feel like he is looking for that support.”
“Sus padres son rusos y él habla ruso con su equipo durante los partidos. Además, no se pronuncia públicamente sobre la guerra de Ucrania, algo que personalmente puedo entender, pero que evidentemente no le ayuda a ganarse el cariño del público alemán”
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) November 5, 2026
Zverev rejects claims of political detachment
Responding to these assessments, Alexander Zverev dismissed the criticism, characterizing Becker’s remarks as unfounded and persistent. “I think he is saying a lot of nonsense, as always,” Zverev said. “I don’t know what is wrong with him right now, but I have the feeling that he has to comment on everything I do. I consider that he is looking for any excuse to belittle me.”
Zverev specifically addressed Becker’s focus on his political silence regarding the war in Ukraine and his use of the Russian language on the court. He maintained that he has a clear personal stance but does not feel compelled to broadcast it through social media platforms. “It is strange to me that he thinks I should express my political opinions, whatever the reason,” Zverev stated. “I have a very clear opinion on the matter. No one has ever asked me about it. I am not going to post comments on Instagram. It is not my style; I have never done it and I never will.”
Zverev disputes claims regarding fan support levels across tournaments
Zverev also challenged the narrative that he lacks support from tennis fans, offering his own observations from recent tournaments. He argued that the level of support often depends on the opponent and the location of the match. “I felt that in Paris, 70% of the people were with me,” Zverev said. “At Wimbledon, I played against Jannik Sinner and the support was more or less split 50-50. Only in New York, logically, were the fans mostly leaning toward the American, Ben Shelton.”
The exchange highlights a deep-seated tension between two generations of German tennis.
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