ATP: Boris Becker - "If the knot bursts, it can happen very quickly"
Germany's former superstar Boris Becker does not want to completely write off Alexander Zverev for the French Open. But the task for the man from Hamburg will by no means be easy.
by SID
last edit: May 22, 2023, 04:01 pm
Tennis legend Boris Becker does not want to write off Alexander Zverev despite his recent poor form at the French Open in Paris. “If the knot bursts, it can happen very quickly. He likes to play Roland Garros, likes the fast clay courts – but now it’s time to chop wood,” said Eurosport expert Becker in a media round before the peak of the clay court season in Paris (from 28th of May).
According to Becker, however, Zverev is currently "not in the same condition as last year". At that time, the Hamburger had dueled in the semi-finals in Paris with record winner Rafael Nadal (Spain/14 titles) at eye level before a serious ankle injury stopped him and forced him to take a long break.
"The tennis world has evolved. A year in tennis is damn long. He's not in the top eight of the favorites," Becker explained: "Tennis is a head game, he's just missing it."
search for consistency
In the decisive phases of the matches, Zverev currently has doubts as to whether he is "still good enough", said Becker: "Sascha sometimes talks very hard to himself - some statements are almost too open for me." He was "still 1000 kilometers away" from the absolute top players, Zverev said after his knockout round against Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Masters in Rome.
After his comeback at the end of last year, Zverev is desperately looking for consistency. At the tournaments in Madrid, Munich, Monte Carlo and Indian Wells he also failed in the round of 16, in Dubai he reached the semi-finals. Before Paris he competes in the 250cc tournament in Geneva this week.
Zverev goes into the French Open in world number 27 as German number two behind Jan-Lennard Struff (No. 26). In the absence of record winner Rafael Nadal (Spain), the title race at the second Grand Slam of the year is open as rarely.