Former ATP Player Tells Alexander Zverev to Part Ways with his Dad Before his Career is “Ruined”

Alexander Zverev has yet to win a Grand Slam title despite reaching three finals in his career.

Former ATP Player Tells Alexander Zverev to Part Ways with his Dad Before his Career is “Ruined”

Alexander Zverev (via X/Universe tennis)

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Alexander Zverev may have a difficult decision to make ahead of the 2026 season as he continues to chase his maiden Grand Slam crown. The 28-year-old finished the season as World No.3, but behind No.2 Jannik Sinner is with over 6,000 points. Former ATP player Pancho Campo has revealed that the German star needs to part ways with his father, Alexander Zverev Sr.

Zverev had a mixed season in 2025, winning just one title and reaching the final of the Australian Open. He began the season with higher expectations, having finished the 2024 season on high. He won the Paris Masters and then reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin before losing to Taylor Fritz.

After reaching the final of the Australian Open in January this year, there were hopes that he could be the best player to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on tour. He moved up to World No.2 and was close to overtaking Sinner at the top after the Italian star was suspended for three months for doping.

But Zverev failed to take advantage of Sinner’s absence and eventually found himself at No.3, with Alcaraz going on to take the ATP top spot. However, Zverev’s main coach has been his father, despite previously working with Juan Carlos Ferrero, Ivan Lendl, and David Ferrer. The German star team comprises most of his family members.

Tennis legend Boris Becker has criticized Zverev on numerous occasions for not taking full charge of his career. During an interview with Puntodebreak, Pancho revealed that Zverev will have to part ways with his father, while pointing out that the World No.3 has everything to win a Grand Slam:

Sascha Zverev really intrigues me. He has the physique, the height, the shots… but he doesn’t win Grand Slams! Every time he plays against the top players, he loses. I don’t know what’s going on. For a player, family is always very important, but sometimes parents are their biggest enemies. A parent is the best support, if used correctly, but they can also ruin your career. Look at Jennifer Capriati! They didn’t make peace until the day she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Zverev will hope to lift his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. The former World No.2 has reached a major tournament final on three occasions, struggling to claim his maiden Slam. Nonetheless, he will open his 2026 campaign at the United Cup, representing his home country, Germany.

Renowned tennis journalist questions Alexander Zverev’s ranking position over Novak Djokovic

The current ATP rankings show Alexander Zverev in third place with 5,160 ranking points, while Novak Djokovic occupies the fourth position with 4,830. This is despite Djokovic not participating in the ATP Finals in Turin. Also, with the fact that Zverev competed in more tournaments this year than Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev (4)
Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev (Images via X/The Tennis Letter)

During a conversation on the Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis podcast, renowned tennis journalist Steve Flint questioned whether Zverev truly merits the World No.3 standing based on actual competitive performance and achievements:

Yes, we have a Big 2 with Alcaraz and Sinner, but in my opinion, we have a remarkable Big 3 with Novak Djokovic. Forget Zverev in this ranking; it makes no sense. Djokovic beat Zverev at Roland Garros, had a better year than him, and reached four Grand Slam semifinals, three of them after turning 38. It’s certainly quite difficult for him, even if he’s not at his peak, to compete with Carlos and Jannik.

Zverev’s final tournament of the season was at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna. He helped his country get to the semi-finals of the tournament before losing to Spain. But before that, he had also crashed out of the season-ending tournament in Riyadh after winning just one match in the round robin stage.

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