Boris Becker Gives Verdict on Alexander Zverev Winning His First Grand Slam in Paris

For the past two seasons, Boris Becker has been one of Alexander Zverev’s big critics. At one time, the two Germans went on loggerheads, with Zverev admitting that Becker only criticized him because he wanted to trend online. But that has changed now as Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam at the French Open on Sunday (June 7).

Before Zverev’s triumph at the Roland Garros, Becker had been the last German to win a Grand Slam in 1996. Zverev had reached his first major tournament final at the US Open in 2020, losing the title to Dominic Thiem. He needed to wait for four years to have another chance in a Grand Slam and that came at the 2024 French Open, but he lost the title to Carlos Alcaraz.

He got to his third final at the Australian Open in 2025 but yet again could not get his hands on the title. After the three losses, Becker criticized the World No 3 for his lack of determination under pressure in Grand Slam finals. Their relationship got ugly in the last couple of months as Zverev criticized Becker for talking too much.

Zverev finally got his hands on his first major silverware at this year’s French Open. He faced a confident and in-form Flavio Cobolli in the championship match and had to hold his nerve in the fifth set to defeat the Italian star 6;1, 4-6, 6-4, 6(5)-7, 6:1 at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on Sunday (June 7).

In numbers, it was a breakthrough built on three previous Grand Slam final defeats, a five-year wait from his first major final in 2020, and a five-set title match where Zverev won 28 games to Cobolli’s 19 before closing the decider 6-1.

With the title finally in Zverev’s hands he was first emotional as he had to wait for more than six years for it. The 29-year-old was the leader of his NextGen stars, who failed to challenge the Big 3 and watched as Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz emerged and dominated the men’s circuit. Speaking on TNT Sports, Becker was full of praise for Zverev after his triumph at the Roland Garros:

A lifelong dream has come true. He can hardly believe what has just happened. He – and his entire family – have worked so long and so hard for this moment. If there is one player at the very top of the rankings who truly deserves this after years of hard work, of despair, of disappointment — it’s him. He has more than earned it. And to achieve all of this while living with diabetes — that should hardly be possible. It’s incredible. I’m very proud of him.

Becker didn’t have to wait like Zverev as he crashed through the Grand Slam barrier as a teenager when he famously won the Wimbledon Championship in 1985. The German legend went on to win five more Slams, including two at Wimbledon, two at the Australian Open, and one at the US Open in 1989.

Boris Becker believes Alexander Zverev will challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner following the French Open triumph

The biggest aim for Alexander Zverev after winning the French Open is to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on tour. The duo had won the last seven Grand Slams before Zverev’s triumph at the Roland Garros. However, the German star’s victory in Paris came after Alcaraz was sidelined due to injury and Sinner exited in the second round.

Will this kind of opportunity occur again for Zverev in the sport? That’s unlikely as Sinner will play at Wimbledon, while Alcaraz will return at the US Open. So, it leaves Zverev with the mindset to break their dominance on tour and win another Slam. Boris Becker revealed during the aforementioned conversation that Zverev would challenge Sinner and Alcaraz on tour:

Even before the final, I had said that if Zverev won, we could start talking about the ‘Big Three,’ with Sinner and Alcaraz. I still think so. It’s all about confidence. He thought he had no chance against them. He has to play more aggressively. And if he plays like that, he can beat Sinner and Alcaraz from time to time… and it won’t be like he apparently believed.

This season, Zverev has met Sinner and Alcaraz but has never beaten them. He came very close to overcoming Alcaraz at the Australian Open in the semi-finals as he clawed back from two sets down to force a fifth set, yet he was unable to take advantage of Spaniard’s physical struggles on the court.

Also Read: Roland Garros Champion Alexander Zverev Won’t Care If He’s Called ‘Worst Player’ to Win Grand Slam Title