Alexander Zverev’s Defiant Response to Boris Becker’s Critique After French Open 2025 Exit
Alexander Zverev, world No. 3, delivered a fiery rebuttal to tennis icon Boris Becker’s harsh criticism following his 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic at the French Open 2025 on June 4. Becker, speaking on Eurosport Germany’s *Matchball Becker*, questioned Zverev’s loyalty to his coaching team—father Alexander Sr. and brother Mischa—suggesting, “At some point, you need new noises and a new environment… His father and brother did an excellent job, but it wasn’t good enough for the final step,” per Bolavip.com. He criticized Zverev’s passive play, noting his 5-18 record against top-10 players in Grand Slams and early clay-season exits in Argentina and Monte-Carlo, per EssentiallySports.com.
At a Stuttgart Open press conference on June 10, Zverev countered, “I lost to Djokovic, not to Hans Peter, who is ranked 250 in the world… When things go badly for me, everyone is very, very clever. Unfortunately, Boris is one of them,” per Tennis.com. Defending his coaches, he said, “I came back from a serious injury and managed to get back to number 2 in the world,” referencing his 2022 ankle injury and two Grand Slam finals since, per tennisuptodate.com. Zverev maintained respect for Becker, stating, “I will always listen to what he has to say, but I don’t always have to agree,” per Bolavip.com.
The exchange, amplified on X by @CristinaNcl’s post, “When things aren’t going well for me, suddenly everyone seems to become very smart,” highlights Zverev’s frustration. With 24 ATP titles but no Grand Slams, he faces Fabio Fognini or Corentin Moutet next in Stuttgart, aiming to reset on grass, per Tennis.com. Becker’s critique, echoed by Barbara Rittner, fuels debate over Zverev’s path to a major title.
