Boris Becker Reiterates that Alexander Zverev’s Problem are due to his Mentality

The 2025 season is one that Alexander Zverev will hope to forget quickly after a disastrous end at the ATP Finals in Turin. The World No.3’s peak this year was when he reached the final of the Australian Open in January before losing to former World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in straight sets in Melbourne.

Since then, he has lost confidence on the court and his game plan has been criticized in critical matches. Also, his confidence on the court has hit rock bottom as he keeps players ranked way lower than him. His worst form on the court was at the Wimbledon Championship, where he crashed out in the opening round.

He tried to regain his composure during the North American hard-court swing, reaching the semi-finals of the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, but that was not enough for him to gain his best form ahead of the US Open. He didn’t get into the second week of the New York Grand Slam, crashing in the third round after losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The 28-year-old reached the final of the Vienna Open last month before losing to Sinner in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters. Things got obviously worse for the German star at the ATP Finals in Turin, where he won just one match before losing to Sinner and Canada’s Auger-Aliassime.

Becker has often criticized Zverev for his performance on the court this season. The tennis legend reiterated his previous claim during an episode of the Becker-Petkovic podcast that the German’s slide in performance stems from his mental issues. He added that Zverev is struggling from a motivational slump he suffered at the Wimbledon Championship:

In Paris, he reached the semifinals but suffered an injury. At the ATP Finals, against Shelton, he played excellently. But I was talking about mental issues. In Wimbledon, during the press conference after his first-round exit, he mentioned a motivational slump. I also think he had it in Turin. He missed shots he usually hits with his eyes closed in practice. That has nothing to do with sports but with his psyche, his mentality.

Zverev claimed 55 wins this season and 25 losses. He operated in the shadows of Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner this season, managing to win only one title and reach three tour-level finals. Also, he struggled against the top 10 players on tour but managed to beat Ben Shelton in their three appearances this season.

Former WTA player addresses Alexander Zverev’s slump this season

Alexander Zverev struggled with a back injury throughout the North American hard-court swing. The issue prevented him from playing at his best level on the court. After that, he also sustained a physical problem during his semi-final clash against Jannik Sinner at the Rolex Paris Masters. The World No.3 has also struggled in humid conditions, particularly during the Asian swing.

During the aforementioned podcast, Former tennis player Andrea Petkovic revealed that Zverev can pose a good challenge against the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner when he’s in his best form. However, she added that he has also struggled physically this season which has exhausted his mental strength:

He is one of the few who, on a good day, can pose a threat to Sinner and Alcaraz. For me, this motivational slump is also due to fatigue. I believe he plays a lot and has played a lot this season, and often the first thing to suffer when one is exhausted is mental strength. I know I repeat myself, but I think he simply has played a lot and needs to recover.

Zverev is currently in Bologna, Italy for the Davis Cup Finals, where he will represent Germany. The Munich Open champion is the leader of his country’s team and their best player on tour. The Germans will face Argentina in the quarter-finals of the national tournament.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner Addresses Engagement Rumors With Girlfriend Laila Hasanovic After ATP Finals Win

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