French Open 2023: Exclusive: Boris Becker concerned about Alexander Zverev and highlights 'problem'
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Updated 11/05/2023 at 10:00 GMT
Ahead of the 2023 French Open, Eurosport expert Boris Becker has assessed where Alexander Zverev currently is in his preparations, midway through the clay-court season. After the star suffered torn ankle ligaments in the French Open semi-finals on June 3 last year he has seen his ATP ranking plummet and struggled to find the form and fitness he had prior to his injury.
Highlights: Alcaraz sweeps past Zverev at Madrid Open
Eurosport's Boris Becker has shared his concerns for his compatriot Alexander Zverev, who he believes is "being a bit overtaken by the younger players" such as Carlos Alcaraz.
The tennis legend has cited the likes of Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda and Alcaraz as being players who have a lot more going for them at present than his fellow German, who is still recovering his form and fitness after he suffered a nasty ankle injury at Roland-Garros last year.
Zverev, who at the time was challenging Rafael Nadal in a very real way in the semi-finals of the French Open, has had a torrid time trying to get back to the player he was after his injury. For Becker, it is a genuine concern that he is slipping behind much younger players coming through.
"I think he's 100% healthy and has confidence in his ankle - and that physically he could play through every match if he could play more," Becker told Eurosport Germany's Das Gelbe vom Ball podcast.
"I think that's the bigger problem. Tennis changes every 18 months. That means you always have to improve accordingly. You get the impression that he hasn't improved and the opponents know exactly how they have to play against Sascha in 2023. That is a problem!
"You want to win free points and create surprise moments. I watched the match against Alcaraz: it was two worlds. A year ago, he beat Alcaraz in Paris and was on his way to beating the unbeatable Nadal, and possibly Ruud in the final. Sascha would have become the new No. 1.
"That's in the past, and 12 months later, the stark reality is brutal. That's the sport. He is fit again but can't manage to match the form he had a year ago. There are many reasons for that.
"What is important, and he is always extremely self-critical, is that he realises this, that he is honest with himself and doesn't blame bad luck, bad fortune, wind or too hot a sun - but the fact that he doesn't play enough.
"I am sure he will address this in his team and then also train better again. In my opinion, Zverev is not playing tennis properly at the moment."
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Becker ‘not surprised’ by Zverev defeat to Mmoh
While in the past, Zverev had been looking to overhaul Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, Becker believes that he has to now be seriously concerned by the rise of players younger than him.
"The focus now is no longer on the big three: Nadal, Djokovic and Federer. Sascha has to look in the rear-view mirror and he is, unfortunately, being a bit overtaken by the younger players. We have talked a lot about Alcaraz, but I also mention Sinner, Rune and Fritz.
"Last but not least, there is Sebastian Korda, who was badly injured in Melbourne, but whom I have on my list. They will play for Grand Slams in the future. That's the problem.
"You have a window in your career in which you have to win the first Grand Slams because the competition never sleeps. With Sascha, that didn't happen for various reasons.
"He now has to look at why the new generation of players mentioned is so good, what they do better and what is different. Do I have to change or adapt my game?
"Let's take the pressure that Sascha develops with his strokes, especially over the backhand and on serve. So, suddenly you have four others who also play with a lot of pressure from the baseline, but they are five years younger.
"In addition, they haven't had any negative experiences yet, and they come to the tournaments as fresh as a daisy. They know they haven't even played here yet or they were in the qualifying last year. So it can only go up, which means less pressure."
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