According to tennis legend Roger Federer, Germany’s best player Alexander Zverev continues to make the same mistakes. “I’m not his coach, so I can speak freely. When I see him play, I see someone who plays far too passively, far too defensively in the decisive moments,” said the Swiss in Berlin, adding: “He’s great in defense, but I think that in order to win, he has to look for a way forward. If he implements that, he can achieve great things.”
News
Tennis: Alexander Zverev eliminated in the quarterfinals of the US Open
Grand Slam tournament: Italian Jannik Sinner wins US Open
Tennis: After Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic also eliminated from US Open
Zverev has been waiting for his first Grand Slam title for years. The Tokyo Olympic champion failed in the finals at the US Open (2020) and French Open (2024). Most recently, the 27-year-old lost in the quarterfinals in New York to American Taylor Fritz. “Against the best players in the world, you have to take the initiative and play offensively. He didn’t do that against Fritz,” Federer analyzed on the sidelines of the Laver Cup in the German capital.
Federer: «Titles don’t just come to you»
According to many experts, Zverev’s passivity is repeatedly his downfall in the fight for his first Grand Slam title. “Zverev fails against Zverev. He stands behind the baseline and hopes that his opponent makes a mistake,” German tennis legend Boris Becker said back in 2021.
Everyone is certain that Zverev has the potential to win a Grand Slam. “It’s not much that’s missing,” said Federer, calling the world number two an “outstanding player with one of the best backhands” on the tour. “But to win a Grand Slam, you have to trust in your shots and play more offensively. He has to believe in this path. Every cell in his body has to feel that this is the only right path. The title won’t just come to you. And certainly not the first one,” said Federer, who left the court as a loser four times in seven duels with Zverev.
2024-09-18 15:18:07