After a bad gameBoris Becker’s flash diagnosis left Alexander Zverev confused
The frustration and disappointment deepen: Alexander Zverev failed early at the ATP Finals in Turin. From the point of view of German tennis legend Boris Becker, this is not a matter of body or class, but a matter of the head. Zverev reacted quietly.
From the point of view of tennis icon Boris Becker, top German player Alexander Zverev failed early in the ATP Finals due to a “mental block”. “I’m not a psychologist, I can’t see what’s inside him. But it has nothing to do with tennis,” Becker told Sky of the world number three’s shaky performance, especially in the second set, the final group match in Turin. He sees the reasons as more on the mental plane.
Zverev was “almost completely tense” at the end, the 57-year-old said. “He couldn’t handle the pressure and expectations.” When asked about this, Zverev reacted a little annoyed. “If that’s his opinion, to be honest I’m bored with his comments,” said the 28 year old player.
Zverev is self-critical
Zverev lost his personal final against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 4:6, 6:7 (4:7) and missed a possible semifinal against Spanish world number one Carlos Alcaraz. The Hamburg player also conceded a decisive break in the first set due to a fatal volley error, and in the second more errors and lack of concentration crept into his game.
“It was the worst match I’ve played in the last few months,” Zverev said. Although he would finish third in the tennis world despite his physical problems, the 2021 Olympic champion was, in his own words, “very dissatisfied” with this season. The Australian Open finalist did not achieve the expected first Grand Slam tournament win; he was only able to succeed at a home tournament in April in Munich.
But Zverev still has one chance to end the season on a positive note with an important win: In next week’s Davis Cup final in Bologna, he wants to lead the DTB team to its first German victory since 1993. “I will play,” Zverev assured after crashing out of Turin.
