After a storm of criticism from one of Germany’s tennis legends, Alexander Zverev has found an ally—though one who still believes some changes might be necessary. It all started when the six-time Grand Slam champion, Boris Becker, never one to mince words, launched a scathing critique of the current world number 3’s recent performances. He didn’t hold back, questioning Zverev’s lack of consistency and drive in crucial moments.

In the joint podcast with Andrea Petkovic, Becker once said, “World class looks different. I really thought he was knocking on the door of (Jannik) Sinner and (Carlos) Alcaraz.” He also added, “Nothing new is happening in his box either. There's his father, there's his brother—the same faces as always,” Becker said Zverev needs to focus on himself, but currently, he feels he’s taking two steps back instead. “He's a problem child right now. I really get a bit of a headache when I think about Sascha Zverev. He needs to turn things around again for the last two or three tournaments of the year,” said Becker.

Although after that, Alexander Zverev fired back at Boris Becker, saying, “I think he’s relatively unconcerned about me, to be honest. I think he’s looking for a bit of attention, and he gets it through me. Unfortunately, that’s the case. But I don’t care anymore.” Now, amid all this chaos, Zverev finds support in former WTA pro Barbara Schett. Zverev has played 73 matches this season and won 50 out of them. Although he made quite a few deep runs this year, he has won just one title so far. Speaking about the constant criticisms that Zverev has received in Germany in particular, she said, “We mustn't forget: at the end of the day, Sascha is still number three in the world. And he certainly doesn't lack the will to win; in fact, he even criticizes himself for his performances.”

She then spoke about the incredible rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and then went on to add, "I'm convinced that Sascha's team has a solid plan. Moreover, he seems comfortable with his father and brother by his side. We can't see inside that. Germany has always been very critical of him. Number three in the world—that's already sensational. I would have been satisfied with that, but he certainly wasn't. In my opinion, Sascha definitely deserves a Grand Slam title. Unfortunately, he's currently further away from it than he was five years ago at the US Open against Dominic Thiem.”

Schett’s words painted a more empathetic picture of Alexander Zverev’s season. Despite falling short of expectations at key tournaments, Zverev solidifying his place inside the Top 3 is definitely no small feat. During the interview, when Schett (former world number 7) was asked to share a few tips for the German, she said Zverev could radiate a bit more positivity and play more aggressively on the court in crucial moments.

Having said that, she also labeled his agility as incredible and his backhand and serve among the absolute best in the world. But at the same time, Barbara Schette also said, “He seems to feel comfortable with his family behind him. But perhaps he could get some additional advice from a former player, a Grand Slam champion.” Did she hint at someone like Becker being a right choice for Zverev?

Well, although we often see Boris Becker sharing his thoughts and giving random advice to Alexander Zverev, even in 2018, he turned down the speculation of him becoming a full-time coach of the German star. That time, he cited frequent traveling to be the primary reason for his call. 

Now, with recent exchanges, their relationship could perhaps become a bit colder. However, as the dust settles from Becker’s biting remarks, Zverev can take solace in knowing that not all of the tennis world is a big critic of him. In Schett’s balanced defense lies both a vote of confidence and a challenge—a reminder that belief and change can coexist. But what do others in the tennis world think about Zverev’s chances of winning a Grand Slam title in the near future?

Tennis bigwigs share their thoughts about Alexander Zverev’s Grand Slam triumph chances

For years, Alexander Zverev has been the man everyone believed would break through—the towering German with a thundering serve, ice-cold composure, and the game to dismantle anyone on Tour. Yet, as season after season passed without a Grand Slam title, the narrative around Zverev has shifted from ‘when’ to ‘if.’ He has reached three Grand Slam finals so far in his career, but on all three of those occasions, he came out empty-handed.

His best record at Wimbledon has been reaching the fourth round three times. Just a few months ago, during an episode of Advantage Connors’ podcast, Jimmy Connors talked about Zverev’s chance to win a major title. He highlighted his incredible skills and tried to figure out what really holds him up every time at the major tournaments. Connors had then suggested to him to get over that hump and win himself a Slam.

And now, in that same podcast, Jimmy Connors shared his thoughts on a similar topic after seeing Alexander Zverev go down to Jannik Sinner in the Vienna Open final. He said, “He is ranked number three; he is in the top five. I’m sure he’s making a ton of dough. He has got 95% of everything he wants, but a Grand Slam. To make that last little push, he is going to have to really put his mind to it and sacrifice a little bit to push himself that little extra.” 

He spoke about how Zverev has done almost everything to put a major title in his bag and added, “The reason I like talking about him is that I think he can.” Although he believes Zverev has what it takes, Connors is wary that time is running out for the 28-year-old German. So, it’s more like now or never for Zverev, as Jimmy Connors doesn’t want the Grand Slam title to be a missing piece of what could probably be an astonishing career for the German star.

Even Zverev’s peer, Nick Kyrgios, once claimed that he thinks Alexander Zverev can win a Grand Slam title. The Aussie believes Zverev is right there and knocking on the door. Earlier this month, Kyrgios even dropped a bold prediction on the German, saying, “Zverev or Medvedev will going to win a Grand Slam in 2026. I think that those two guys are going to be hungry. Obviously, Sinner and Alcaraz are the juggernauts and the titans. But I think that Medvedev and Zverev are sick of them winning all the Grand Slams. So maybe one of those two.”

Do you also think that 2026 is the year that Alexander Zverev has been waiting for all these 12 years of his professional career? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta