Boris Becker says what his relationship with Alexander Zverev is really like after coaching him recently
Alexander Zverev has endured a challenging start to 2025 but recently showed signs of a resurgence, capturing the title in Munich and carrying momentum into the Madrid Open.
The world No 2 had struggled to capitalize on Jannik Sinner’s suspension, failing to win any of his first seven tournaments despite entering six as the top seed. However, Zverev delighted home fans in Munich with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Ben Shelton to claim the trophy.
That form continued in Madrid, where Zverev defeated Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in dominant fashion, dropping just four games in his opening match.
Among those cheering him on is fellow German and tennis legend Boris Becker, who has offered insight into their close relationship.
Boris Becker: “Sascha is like a sports foster son to me”
Speaking on the Becker Petkovic podcast, the six-time Grand Slam champion explained his connection with Zverev:
“Sascha [Zverev] is like a sports foster son. We’re in regular contact — he can call me day or night. I’m happy to offer advice, either over the phone or in person during training sessions.”
Becker stressed that the nature of their conversations remains private, and while he’s happy to advise Zverev, he has no plans to officially join his coaching team:
“I won’t be his coach. That role will always belong to his father.”
Becker recently spent time working with Zverev at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where Zverev was defeated by Matteo Berrettini in the second round. Becker reflected on their training sessions:
“I observed and supported him during training in Monte Carlo. I know his strengths and weaknesses very well — otherwise, I couldn’t help him.”
Chasing His First Grand Slam Title
Becker believes Zverev is emotionally primed for a breakthrough:
“He’s at an exciting stage where he wants to achieve what he’s never done before — winning a Grand Slam and becoming world No 1.”
Zverev has reached three Grand Slam finals without success:
- 2025 Australian Open: lost to Jannik Sinner (6-7, 3-6, 6-7)
- 2024 French Open: lost to Carlos Alcaraz (3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 1-6, 2-6)
- 2020 US Open: lost to Dominic Thiem (6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-7)
Becker is optimistic that a Grand Slam triumph would be a monumental achievement not just for Zverev but for German tennis as a whole.
Acknowledging Past Mistakes
Earlier in 2025, Zverev opted to play the South American clay-court swing — a decision Becker now says was a misstep:
“He doesn’t need to do South America anymore. The travel from Rio to Acapulco, and playing immediately, was too much.”
Zverev’s results during the South American tournaments reflected those challenges, failing to reach the semifinals in either the Argentina Open or the Rio Open.
Looking Ahead
Following his success in Munich, Becker believes Zverev has rediscovered his best form:
“He’s playing more offensively, coming to the net more. I’m excited for what’s ahead — Madrid, Rome, and the French Open.”
Zverev is set to continue his Madrid Open campaign on Sunday, April 27, facing Spanish favorite Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round.
