Boris Becker Clarifies Criticism of ‘Best German’ Player Alexander Zverev

Wimbledon will start on June 30 and World No.3 Alexander Zverev will be hoping to win his first Grand Slam title.

Boris Becker Clarifies Criticism of ‘Best German’ Player Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev, Boris Becker (Image via X/Murat Taskolu, Univers Tennis)

Alexander Zverev recently played the Halle Open to chase his first grass-court title. But the German ace couldn’t go past eventual runner-up and his longtime rival Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.

Before Halle, Zverev lost the Stuttgart Open final to Taylor Fritz, registering his fifth consecutive defeat to the American. Before this season, the last time Zverev played in Stuttgart was six years ago.

He entered the tournament after ending the clay swing with one title. In the ultimate clay-court event, the French Open, Zverev was pitted against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.

The 28-year-old took a set off the 38-year-old but eventually lost the match in four sets. He was the runner-up last year, losing a five-set thriller to five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev was criticized a lot by fans and former players after his defeat to Djokovic in Paris. Boris Becker and Barbara Rittner also advised him to change his approach if he wants to win a Major.

Zverev, in the pre-tournament press conference in Stuttgart, said “things are going badly for me, everyone else is very, very clever. Unfortunately, Boris is one of them, and so is Barbara Rittner.” Becker has now responded to Zverev.

I’m convinced he can become world number one. I’m convinced he can win a Grand Slam. He’s by far the best German. That’s why I’m making these statements. I see the potential. I see the opportunity.

Boris Becker said (via Eurosport Germany)

Before Paris, Zverev lost his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. Unlike his previous Major finals which were five-set affairs, he lost the Melbourne Slam in straight sets against World No.1 Jannik Sinner.

Andy Roddick picks Jack Draper over Alexander Zverev to win Wimbledon

For sure Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will enter Wimbledon as the heavy favorites, given that they share the last six Grand Slam titles between them. The last player other than them to emerge triumphant in these events was Novak Djokovic at the 2023 US Open.

Jack Draper (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Jack Draper (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Andy Roddick thinks the player who could challenge Sinner and Alcaraz at Wimbledon is Jack Draper. The 2003 US Open champion picked the home favorite over Alexander Zverev, who has never progressed beyond the fourth round at SW19.

I think he’s [Zverev] the best player ever that hasn’t won a Major. His resume outside of that is a Hall of Fame resume with Masters 1000s and rankings and matches won, but obviously, there’s a glaring hole and I think that’s kind of had an effect. And how wouldn’t it? Every single day he gets asked about it. So I guess I’m going Draper.

Andy Roddick on Zverev

Zverev has made the last 16 of Wimbledon thrice (2017, 2021, 2024). Last year, Taylor Fritz knocked him out. Draper, on the other hand, has never reached the Wimbledon third round. He played the second round twice, in 2022 and 2024, losing the match last year to compatriot Cameron Norrie. Last year, Draper lifted his first grass-court title in Stuttgart.

Alcaraz will be playing as the two-time defending champion. He beat Djokovic in both the finals in 2023 and 2024. Sinner, however, is a semifinalist in the grass-court Major. In 2023, Djokovic ended his campaign in the last four, while in 2024, it was Daniil Medvedev who knocked him out in the quarterfinals. Sinner and Alcaraz have won this year’s two Majors.

The 23-year-old, after beating Zverev in Melbourne, served his three-month doping ban. He then lost the final of his comeback tournament, the Italian Open to Alcaraz, before losing to him in a thrilling French Open final.

Also read: Former WTA Star Sheds Light on Why Novak Djokovic Is Very Successful at Wimbledon