The tense relationship between Boris Becker and Alexander Zverev continues to attract attention, especially after Becker excluded the current world number one from his list of candidates for a possible coaching partnership. Despite sharing the same nationality and both being former men’s world number ones, the connection between the two has been marked by disagreements over the years.
Becker, in an interview with DerSpeigel, said: “I have to be the boss in the ring. If a family member has a different opinion, in a language I don’t understand, in this case Russian, then it’s unacceptable.” The former player highlighted his experience of having been alongside Zverev at many matches, stressing that their relationship had its ups and downs. “I’m 30 years older than him, I have children his age. You have to tell these young people what they sometimes don’t like to hear. That can motivate them even more; they think: ‘What is he saying? I’ll show that old man.’ The main thing is that he wins,” said Becker, referring to the German’s success in 2023.
Zverev, for his part, has a coaching team led by his father, Alexander Zverev Sr, and is known for being reluctant to part with a family structure that also includes his brother, Mischa. Although he has worked with renowned coaches such as Juan Carlos Ferrero and Ivan Lendl, those spells have rarely lasted long, with the styles and methods of outside coaches often clashing with the family dynamic.
Becker has a track record of success as a coach, notably alongside Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016, when he helped the Serb win six Grand Slam titles. During that time, Becker was instrumental in modifying Djokovic’s serve, making it unbeatable on all surfaces. The former player also had a brief spell with Holger Rune, which culminated in the Dane qualifying for the ATP Finals in 2023 under his guidance.
Becker’s direct approach to coaching, which worked with veterans such as Djokovic, may nevertheless not be well received by Zverev, as seen in the partnership between Goran Ivanisevic and Stefanos Tsitsipas, where the Croatian’s criticism did not go down well with the Greek. Becker had already made critical comments about Zverev’s popularity in Germany, questioning his ability to express himself in interviews in his native language, something that was not the case when he spoke in English, prompting Zverev to respond with frustration.
Although Becker has not named a specific player for his potential return to coaching, many believe a partnership with the former world number one would not be a bad idea for Zverev, who faces a whirlwind of questions even after reaching the top of world tennis.
Zverev had a difficult start as world number one, losing his first match at the Paris Masters to Lorenzo Musetti. After that defeat, the German expressed his displeasure at questions about his ranking. Despite having accumulated more than 60 wins and two Grand Slam titles this season, criticism of his performances against top-10 opponents such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz continues to be a topic of debate.
With the ATP Finals approaching, Zverev has the chance to finish the season in style, while preparing for a start to 2024 focused on improving his record against the best players on the circuit.
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