“Don’t open your heart” – Boris Becker sends strongly-worded message to Alexander Zverev after German’s emotional revelation during Wimbledon
Boris Becker has delivered a strongly-worded message to Alexander Zverev, urging him with a “Don’t open your heart” stance following the German’s emotional revelation during his Wimbledon 2025 press conference. After Zverev suffered a shock first-round defeat to Arthur Rinderknech on July 2, 2025, losing 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4, he opened up about his mental health struggles, admitting to feeling “empty,” “very alone,” and lacking joy both on and off the court. This candid admission, a rare moment of vulnerability from the three-time Grand Slam finalist, moved Becker to tears, but the former champion has since advised against such public disclosures.
Becker, who considers Zverev his “sporting adopted son,” expressed his concern on the Becker Petkovic podcast and at a panel during the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games, suggesting that Zverev should have kept his struggles private. He stated that if he were Zverev’s coach, he would have counseled, “Ideally, you don’t open up when you’re eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.” Becker’s message reflects a belief that such revelations at a low point could undermine Zverev’s image and mental recovery, though he acknowledged it might have been a necessary release, adding, “I am convinced that he will win his Grand Slam and that he can become number one at some point.”
This advice has sparked debate, with some viewing it as practical given the competitive nature of tennis, while others see it as dismissive of mental health openness, especially as Zverev hinted at considering therapy for the first time. Becker’s stance contrasts with his initial empathy, where he cried and reached out to check on Zverev, who responded with a thumbs-up. As Zverev prepares for his return at the Canadian Open on July 27, 2025, Becker’s strongly-worded guidance highlights a tension between protecting a player’s public persona and supporting their personal well-being, leaving the tennis world to ponder the balance at 07:35 PM WAT on July 25, 2025.
