“That’s complete nonsense”: Coach defends Alexander Zverev, points to hidden battle top tennis star face
Renowned mental coach Thomas Baschab has staunchly defended Alexander Zverev against claims of mental weakness, calling such accusations “complete nonsense” in an interview with tennis MAGAZIN on July 24, 2025. The world No. 3, who has reached three Grand Slam finals but is yet to win one, faced criticism after his 2025 Australian Open final loss to Jannik Sinner (3-6, 6-7(4-7), 3-6) and a first-round Wimbledon exit to Arthur Rinderknech (7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4). Baschab argued that Zverev’s ability to reach world No. 2 and excel in high-pressure moments, like his stellar tiebreak record, disproves mental fragility. “If a player like Zverev had mental weaknesses, he wouldn’t have become world number two. He plays the ‘big points’ excellently,” Baschab stated, per EssentiallySports.
Instead, Baschab pointed to a “completely different problem”: Zverev’s struggle with maintaining consistent energy levels during matches. He suggested Zverev needs to “strengthen his own energy system” to avoid disruptions, recommending a break to recharge rather than therapy, as Zverev is not at risk of depression. This perspective aligns with Zverev’s own candid admissions of feeling “very alone” and “lacking joy” since the Australian Open, shared after his Wimbledon loss on July 2, 2025. “I’ve never felt this empty before… It’s not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well,” he told ATP Tour, hinting at a deeper personal struggle.
Zverev’s 2025 season (35-14 record, Munich ATP 500 title) reflects resilience despite setbacks, including a French Open quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic and a controversial code violation in Madrid for photographing a ball mark, which sparked debate over Hawk-Eye accuracy, per Reddit. His training stint with Toni Nadal in Mallorca, where he spent hours with Rafael Nadal discussing tactics and life, has been a turning point, with Zverev noting improved net play in his 500th ATP win in Toronto (6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 over Matteo Arnaldi).
Boris Becker, moved by Zverev’s mental health revelations, contacted him post-Wimbledon, per EssentiallySports, while critics like Becker and Barbara Rittner have suggested a coaching shake-up, questioning his family-centric setup led by father Alexander Sr. Baschab’s defense, echoed on X by @TennisUpToDate2 and @Welovetennis, reframes Zverev’s challenge as one of energy management, not mental weakness, urging fans to reconsider the narrative as he prepares for Cincinnati and the US Open.
