“I think there’s still things he’s lacking”: Patrick Mouratoglou highlights one reason behind Alexander Zverev’s continuous failure in Grand Slam finals

Renowned tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has shed light on the reasons behind Alexander Zverev’s ongoing struggles in Grand Slam finals. The 27-year-old German, one of the top players in men’s singles, endured another tough loss at the Australian Open final, where he was defeated by current world No. 1, Jannik Sinner, in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

This marked the third time Zverev has fallen short in a Grand Slam final. In 2020, he was the runner-up at the US Open, losing to Dominic Thiem, and in 2024, he lost the French Open final to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, recently shared his insights into Zverev’s struggles in major finals. He believes Zverev’s issue is not a lack of self-belief, but rather an absence of aggression during critical moments.

“I don’t think Sascha loses these Grand Slam finals because he doesn’t believe enough,” Mouratoglou said in an Instagram reel. “I think he does believe. But there are still things missing in his game. He has improved for sure—he’s No. 2 in the world now, and he came back stronger, adding new elements to his game. But when it comes to the big moments, he’s not bold enough. He lacks aggression and doesn’t take the risks needed to seize control of the match.”

Mouratoglou further explained that while Zverev tries to be more assertive in these moments, it doesn’t yet come naturally to him. “He’s pushing himself, but it’s not instinctive yet. He needs more time and experience to find that balance and efficiency in the crucial stages of these major finals,” he added.