Zverev hopes for Becker's return to tennis
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is positive about a possible return of Boris Becker to German tennis.
by SID
last edit: Feb 01, 2023, 12:04 pm
"You can always use Boris' help, whether as a player, coach, DTB or whatever. He knows how to do it," said the 25-year-old in the run-up to the Davis Cup duel between the German team and Switzerland in Trier on Friday and Saturday the picture.
"He is certainly very important for German tennis and we will always accept the help," said Zverev. Becker (55) has announced himself as a guest in Trier and should also hold talks there with the German Tennis Association (DTB), for which he had already been active from 2017 to 2020 as "Head of Men's Tennis".
Heimsiel as a huge motivation
According to Zverev, the former Wimbledon champion, who was released from custody in a British prison at the end of last year, would be welcomed with "open arms". In April 2022, Becker received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for offenses in the insolvency proceedings, but did not have to serve it out in full.
"We are very close and I'm happy that he's coming. It's nice for the whole team that he's there," said Zverev, who is optimistic about the home games: "It's a huge motivation. That's it greatest." He is sure that the team will get the necessary three wins.
Zverev for two-year Davis Cup
Zverev criticized the controversial format of the traditional competition, which has been used since 2019: "Either completely back to the old mode with a duel at the weekend or a huge event every two years," was his suggestion. It is crucial that a team enjoys home rights. "A tournament in two weeks at a neutral venue where two top nations play each other in front of 400 people is nonsense and not a Davis Cup," said the 2020 US Open finalist.
The German team, which includes Zverev, Daniel Altmaier, Oscar Otte, Andreas Mies and Tim Pütz, is up against Switzerland to qualify for the final tournament of the 16 best teams at the end of the year.